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HMRC 'ignorant to the needs of small firms'

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9th May 2007
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The government is ignoring the needs and capabilities of small businesses by pressuring them to complete their tax returns online, a lobby group has claimed.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) said the £150 incentive given to firms that submit online is unfair to smaller businesses which lacked the resources to train new staff.

FPB chief executive Nick Goulding said: "This £150 becomes a gift for the already advantaged bigger firms, as if small firms did not have enough unfair competitive practices to cope with."

Goulding added that the current consultation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over whether to impose penalties on firms which fail to file online was also "ignorant of the realities of smaller businesses".

"HMRC should not be trying to dictate to people the method by which they declare their tax liability," he said.

"Its job is to check that people pay the right amount, not to bully them into communicating that amount in HMRC's chosen way and impose extra costs on them."

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Replies (5)

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Richard Murphy
By Richard Murphy
09th May 2007 15:12

Nicholas is right
'Nuff said

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By carnmores
09th May 2007 13:45

i think this is rubbish
any small firm worths its salt can see the benefits in online filing

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By User deleted
11th May 2007 15:19

I guess it depends on the firm.
I didn't report this story, but I understand the point. I have several mates who run small businesses and do not use computers.

For many people,
you see,
there is an awful lot more to life than
IT.

You can't beat having the freedom to choose.

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Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
11th May 2007 18:41

Nick Goulding is completely wrong
... or has been misreported.

The PAYE online filing incentive is only available to small employers, so how can it be "a gift for the already advantaged bigger firms".

HMRC are not dictating or bullying anyone, but encouraging them with an incentive, into communicating in HMRC's chosen way.

We seem to have a culture where any benefit, advantage or success enjoyed by one group is seen as unfair discrimination against everyone else.

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By AnonymousUser
11th May 2007 23:02

Completely wrong
Change is inevitable and when we fight it we lose and this is more so for small businesses.

The online system is merely an electronic version of the paper forms, so you can tillfll in the paper forms and then simply type it on line.

Obviously it is not for everyone, but it is the futre and it is an incentive for peole to change. it is not compulsory so if you don`t like it then don`t do it.

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