The head of tax at Smith and WIlliamson, Richard Mannion, has suggested that everyone should be required to complete a self-assessment tax return in order to ensure that taxpayers don't accidentally or deliberately underpay tax on some of their income.  He suggests that a simplified form could be used to make it easier for the simplest of taxpayers.

I have another idea. How about Richard Mannion go jump in a lake? The current system works pretty well and, for all their faults, is living proof that HMRC does have a human side.  For sure, sometimes a little bit of tax might get underpaid, or indeed overpaid.  But the system as currently enforced means that most people pay mostly the right amount of tax, and those who don't only over/underpay by tiny amounts.

His proposal stinks of naked self-interest.  Who is likely to pick up extra self-assessment work off the back of his policy? Why, tax advisers such as... Smith and Williamson!

Screw that for a game. Let's leave the current system as it is, and he can scrounge for work elsewhere.

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Filed under: Other blogs, Taxation with tags accountancy age, hmrc, idiots, richard mannion, self assessment, smith and williamson