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Bridge the gap
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Bridge the tax advice gap

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27th Apr 2017
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Professional tax advice doesn't come cheap, and many people on relatively low incomes are unable to pay advisers to help resolve disputes and bring their affairs up to date. However, the Bridge the gap campaign has been launched with the aim to provide free access to those that need it.

Many British companies pay a lot of money to keep their tax affairs in order and maximise profits, but what are the options for those who can't afford to pay for professional advice? Engaging one of the Big Four is not really an option, so what are the alternatives?

There are charities out there that can offer support and advice. TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People both offer advice to people with annual incomes below £20,000 who need help in getting their affairs in order.

This could be for a variety of reasons as employment patterns change. Whether by choice or not, more and more people are entering the so-called 'gig economy', characterised by flexible, short-term work, a trend which raises new issues for HMRC in terms of gathering the right amount of tax.

A lot of the people who come to TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People have other vulnerabilities: around 25% have experienced mental health issues, while others may have had physical health problems or have suffered a family breakdown.

This may lead to a break in employment, or even homelessness, in which case it's difficult for HMRC to keep accurate records. There are also of course people who simply failed to fill out the required forms on time, or didn't fully understand their tax obligations.

Eventually, HMRC may well come knocking to recover any overdue monies. This can be both psychologically and financially draining for the people affected, particularly if they've just managed to get back into their own home or found a new job

Bridge the gap

The bridge the gap campaign aims to help ensure that people have access to professional advice, regardless of whether or not they are able to pay for it. The target is to raise £250,000 a year for the next five years, to be shared equally between TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People.

This will help both charities not only to continue providing their services but to expand them. There are more people out there who need support and advice than can currently access these services, underlining the need for further funding.

The two charities both receive funding from HMRC, who recognise their value in terms of providing advice for people on lower incomes. Tax Help for Older People has around 420 volunteers, providing advice through both local surgeries and home visits.    

A lot of back-office support is required to provide feedback and guidance, so the key challenge in terms of expanding the service and helping more people is establishing a back office structure that supports volunteering.  

To contribute to the campaign, click here

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By Giles M
27th Apr 2017 11:54

Here is an interview I did with Valerie Boggs from the campaign explaining a little more... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeWyfmIqUJI

Please do get involved if you can.

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