My goodness There are an awful lot of peeps here having a pop at the writer. This is most odd imho. Clients are notoriously (in the nicest possible way) a) ignorant of tax and accounting detail and b) eager to save money. For the last year or so they have been bombarded with adverts for software that is not only going to make sure they are on the right side of HMRC but also going to simplify their accounting and save them money. Software developers are in heaven as businesses sign up thinking "expensive accountants" are a thing of the past. lol. Even I struggle to set MTD up. Never mind having the mindset or will to check and understand what VAT system I am or should be running. Full marks to the article writer. And HMRC has a temporary windfall. Hopefully the client will write it down to experience and next time ignore all the hype and gloss and happy clappy adverts and get someone to do it for him while he gets on with his business. Accountancy is our bread and butter. The software people and HMRC need to back off a bit.
Not sure that any tax should be made simpler imho. Each case should be treated on it's own merits and for that to work there need to be trained and valued experts who get paid for their time and a common set of rules (like we already have) so that it's not (all) going to be down to which tax inspector and which judge had a bad night, has an overfull court schedule or sees easy pickings and needs to reach a target.
Tax by it's very nature is complex. Perhaps you would like heart surgery to be simplified as well? Tax needs to be complex to deal fairly with different situations and circumstances. Once size fits all approach is a true copout and a dangerous one.
White van man/lady just back from buying some supplies probably parked on double yellow lines no parking available so he/she is stressed as hell. His mobile won't shut up - he's got clients waiting. So he looks at his new supplies and checks they are what he wanted and starts prioritising the rest of the day. He leaves as quickly as possible and just avoids a ticket. Stress. Mobile still bleating. He tells clients he is really sorry and is on his way - delay caused by hiccup in supply chain. Now at which point did he stop and record the receipt between the purchase and him getting home knackered at 7pm. HMRC are really the most out of touch people I have ever encountered.
Um not being funny like but how come I get emails about seminars, help available, etc and my clients get reminders on their phones every month about things but not one message or email or notification is about exclusions where paper filing has to take place? Is there some secret email/notification list out there? If I didn't subscribe to AW I wouldn't have known about this. Something smells as usual.
Having a break today Was going to watch the Brexit debate but I keep shouting we haven't left yet every 5 mins so I read this instead https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil...
Anybody else absolutely gobsmacked at the powers these unelected HMRC commissioners have (check how many times the word commissioner is used) Reminds one of that old European institution the European Commission...
My answers
My goodness There are an awful lot of peeps here having a pop at the writer. This is most odd imho. Clients are notoriously (in the nicest possible way) a) ignorant of tax and accounting detail and b) eager to save money. For the last year or so they have been bombarded with adverts for software that is not only going to make sure they are on the right side of HMRC but also going to simplify their accounting and save them money. Software developers are in heaven as businesses sign up thinking "expensive accountants" are a thing of the past. lol. Even I struggle to set MTD up. Never mind having the mindset or will to check and understand what VAT system I am or should be running. Full marks to the article writer. And HMRC has a temporary windfall. Hopefully the client will write it down to experience and next time ignore all the hype and gloss and happy clappy adverts and get someone to do it for him while he gets on with his business. Accountancy is our bread and butter. The software people and HMRC need to back off a bit.
Good article Thank you John
Not sure that any tax should be made simpler imho. Each case should be treated on it's own merits and for that to work there need to be trained and valued experts who get paid for their time and a common set of rules (like we already have) so that it's not (all) going to be down to which tax inspector and which judge had a bad night, has an overfull court schedule or sees easy pickings and needs to reach a target.
Have to say imho this is deffo a pro blue article. Praying for a hung parliament - time for teamwork again!
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Tax by it's very nature is complex. Perhaps you would like heart surgery to be simplified as well? Tax needs to be complex to deal fairly with different situations and circumstances. Once size fits all approach is a true copout and a dangerous one.
White van man/lady just back from buying some supplies probably parked on double yellow lines no parking available so he/she is stressed as hell. His mobile won't shut up - he's got clients waiting. So he looks at his new supplies and checks they are what he wanted and starts prioritising the rest of the day. He leaves as quickly as possible and just avoids a ticket. Stress. Mobile still bleating. He tells clients he is really sorry and is on his way - delay caused by hiccup in supply chain. Now at which point did he stop and record the receipt between the purchase and him getting home knackered at 7pm. HMRC are really the most out of touch people I have ever encountered.
Ah cheers Tim. Is there any third party software you would recommend?
Um not being funny like but how come I get emails about seminars, help available, etc and my clients get reminders on their phones every month about things but not one message or email or notification is about exclusions where paper filing has to take place? Is there some secret email/notification list out there? If I didn't subscribe to AW I wouldn't have known about this. Something smells as usual.
Having a break today Was going to watch the Brexit debate but I keep shouting we haven't left yet every 5 mins so I read this instead https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fil...
Anybody else absolutely gobsmacked at the powers these unelected HMRC commissioners have (check how many times the word commissioner is used) Reminds one of that old European institution the European Commission...