What is the point?

Just started acting for a new client who previously submitted their own tax returns. They are employed and have income from self-employment.

On looking at the previous tax returns the client had never actually completed any self-employed pages but declared the self-employed income and expenditure on the employed pages in addition to the employed pages for his actual employment.

They have been doing this for years and HMRC never even asked the question why have we no record of this employment and why are you claiming in excess of £10,000 employment related expenses.

What is the point in working hard to submit correct figures to HMRC when it is clear they seem to pay little regard to what is submitted by taxpayers.

Perhaps if HMRC got their act together and collected tax revenues as they should, we would all be better off.

To back this up I wrote to George and David recently pointing out a number of issues where HMRC continue to make errors resulting in tax not being collected by the exchequer. I received a one paragraph reply saying HMRC is always trying to improve.

In other words no one gives a xxxx whether the right tax is being collected or not.

So frustrating!!!