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Awkward squad
HMRC always know best, they will always deliberately do the opposite to what common sense would dictate.
Honest accountants and honest taxpayers are not supported, and one often forgets we are also competing against Tax cheats. Forget avoidance, Evasion is a much bigger problem that is endemic in our society and whilst the honest are bombarded by yet more unworkable rules the dishonest take full commercial advantage.
Taxing...
Collecting tax is taxing.
I don't think PCS know the half of it.
1. it is so costly to comply; e.g. be self-employed and you need expensive tax specialists to help you make your returns accurately, and HMRC need experts to check it. (Just ask any MP with expenses)
If the tax system or tax "code" as you call were simple, it would be easy to identify where revenue is due.
Instead of refining the rules over the years we have made the situation worse with the most complex rules of any country. Of course online returns should help the flow of information, but how do you check the info. is accurate?
2. It is so easy to run into the cracks and never be found.
It always seems to me the job of identifying revenue defaulters is too hard and costs too much to pursue.
Our 'working' population is very fluid, it must be a real headache keeping tabs on everyone who has the right to work here or trade here from Europe and beyond.
I would be interested to read some real figures on this.
Lastly the revenues have collapsed in general because big banks are no longer generating big taxable profits. All the public service unions are looking for anyone but their membership to suffer, that is their job after all, but they need to get into the real word, where small business is.
"£25bn is lost through avoidance"???
What on earth is that supposed to mean? If it is avoidance it is legal. If it is legal, what is the definition of "lost"?
"Lost" through the failure of government to draft the legislation as it intended?
I consider the figures quoted to be highly suspect in any case.
With kind regards
Clint Westwood
Avoidable
Clint,
It's probably 20% of the interest from tax-free ISAs plus 20% of the Personal Allowance per taxpayer ...
Like TV licences ...
They could just take the approach that appears to be taken by the TV Licensing authority:
- identify all addresses with occupants
- identify all above occupants
- for each occupant, determine where on their system the person is represented in the HMRC, either as a taxpayer or unemployed/at school etc.
- each adult person should have a UTR and be represented somewhere under PAYE, self-employed, etc.
That should at least sweep up some of the 'grey' economy ... or is that not the kind of country you would like to live in ?