I spent a large chunk of yesterday talking to the software suppliers (a major organisation) because a very simple tax return would not finalise for submission. They (and I) remain baffled, although we managed to progress the task by trickery. As the systems become more complex and the customers are used as guinea pigs to find the glitches, using technology is becoming more complex, more stressful and less reliable. The grandiose MTD scheme is guaranteed to cause more headaches. HMRC surely realise that there are many people who have never used a computer. Why bully them?
I tried to gain access to my own account, to see what the experience would be like for clients, but gave up for the present after spending nearly half a day fruitlessly pursuing the identification process.
Has anyone tried getting into a digital tax account? As far as I know I've done everything right, but I can't get into mine. It makes me wonder how many others are having the same problem.
I have had recurring problems with Basic PAYE Tools. My correspondence with the technical department at HMRC has been protracted and meanwhile I am being threatened with penalties.
The Tools worked OK, then just developed a problem.
I feel very uncomfortable at the prospect of having to deal with another HMRC project which no doubt will be fine when it works, but is likely to waste lots of time when it does not.
Running a small business is stressful enough without adding more potential IT problems.
Having said that I suppose MTD will be fine in straightforward cases if it works. When it doesn't, I suspect that sorting out the problem will be as tiresome as RTI.
Excellent comment by Mr Stafford. All the Budget gimmickry should be swept away, together with ill-considered reliefs that will be seen ten years later to have contributed nothing. Anyone remember PRP? Or paying bonuses in sow belly futures to save NI? Or opening a post office in Belgium to save CGT? The list is endless. The simpler the system the more difficult avoidance becomes.
No doubt the Chancellor and his advisers at the Treasury considered all these aspects - and the previous ones about crossing rate bands - when they decided to introduce these provisions. I thought the strategy was supposed to be to simplify our tax system.
An unfortunate situation, in which the confusing state of the UK's over complicated taxation system is at least a contributory factor. One of those situations in which, in the good old days, a bit of bureaucratic common sense could have saved all the trouble.
The tribunal had all the facts before them and appear to have reached the only decision open to them. There are too many pitfalls and the authorities generally have become over eager to exploit them. The contest has become very one-sided.
HMRC should be making special allowance for those suffering from disabilities such as dementia, depression etc.who are unable to cope. There seems to be no allowance for such circumstances and HMRC whilst sticking to the letter of the law relies on compassionate professionals to solve such problems on a pro bono basis.
Simplify the tax system instead of making cosmetic changes that just amount to "more of the same".
Why do we need such a complicated car benefit system, for example? Policy has pushed everyone towards diesel, which now doesn't seem to have been such a good idea. TThe car benefit system could be simplified at a stroke.
Whet about some of the anomalies? The 30% tax band for older people who marginally exceed the income ceiling for the higher personal allowance; the ridiculous 60% tax rate for those whose income modestly exceeds £100K? Wy make life so tiresome for internationally mobile workers?
These are random examples. I could go on. What is needed is a root and branch approach to simplification without being afraid of radical change. Our tax system is too complex, too unfair, and too rigid in the wrong areas of enforcement. .
My answers
I spent a large chunk of yesterday talking to the software suppliers (a major organisation) because a very simple tax return would not finalise for submission. They (and I) remain baffled, although we managed to progress the task by trickery. As the systems become more complex and the customers are used as guinea pigs to find the glitches, using technology is becoming more complex, more stressful and less reliable. The grandiose MTD scheme is guaranteed to cause more headaches. HMRC surely realise that there are many people who have never used a computer. Why bully them?
I tried to gain access to my own account, to see what the experience would be like for clients, but gave up for the present after spending nearly half a day fruitlessly pursuing the identification process.
Has anyone tried getting into a digital tax account? As far as I know I've done everything right, but I can't get into mine. It makes me wonder how many others are having the same problem.
I have had recurring problems with Basic PAYE Tools. My correspondence with the technical department at HMRC has been protracted and meanwhile I am being threatened with penalties.
The Tools worked OK, then just developed a problem.
I feel very uncomfortable at the prospect of having to deal with another HMRC project which no doubt will be fine when it works, but is likely to waste lots of time when it does not.
Running a small business is stressful enough without adding more potential IT problems.
Having said that I suppose MTD will be fine in straightforward cases if it works. When it doesn't, I suspect that sorting out the problem will be as tiresome as RTI.
Excellent comment by Mr Stafford. All the Budget gimmickry should be swept away, together with ill-considered reliefs that will be seen ten years later to have contributed nothing. Anyone remember PRP? Or paying bonuses in sow belly futures to save NI? Or opening a post office in Belgium to save CGT? The list is endless. The simpler the system the more difficult avoidance becomes.
No doubt the Chancellor and his advisers at the Treasury considered all these aspects - and the previous ones about crossing rate bands - when they decided to introduce these provisions. I thought the strategy was supposed to be to simplify our tax system.
An unfortunate situation, in which the confusing state of the UK's over complicated taxation system is at least a contributory factor. One of those situations in which, in the good old days, a bit of bureaucratic common sense could have saved all the trouble.
The tribunal had all the facts before them and appear to have reached the only decision open to them. There are too many pitfalls and the authorities generally have become over eager to exploit them. The contest has become very one-sided.
What has all that expensive time before the courts achieved?
Vulnerable taxpayers
What has happened to common sense?
HMRC should be making special allowance for those suffering from disabilities such as dementia, depression etc.who are unable to cope. There seems to be no allowance for such circumstances and HMRC whilst sticking to the letter of the law relies on compassionate professionals to solve such problems on a pro bono basis.
Improve the tax system.
Simplify the tax system instead of making cosmetic changes that just amount to "more of the same".
Why do we need such a complicated car benefit system, for example? Policy has pushed everyone towards diesel, which now doesn't seem to have been such a good idea. TThe car benefit system could be simplified at a stroke.
Whet about some of the anomalies? The 30% tax band for older people who marginally exceed the income ceiling for the higher personal allowance; the ridiculous 60% tax rate for those whose income modestly exceeds £100K? Wy make life so tiresome for internationally mobile workers?
These are random examples. I could go on. What is needed is a root and branch approach to simplification without being afraid of radical change. Our tax system is too complex, too unfair, and too rigid in the wrong areas of enforcement. .