It’s not about the money…
The announcement that a large proportion out of almost six million of us are likely to get an unpleasant letter from HMRC in the next three months has been a topic of some discussion in recent days.
Tax is an interesting creature (no really, hear me out!). Most people, when pressed, would admit that it's all for the greater good; a big pot of money to make our country run well and our lives better. And most of us, fraudsters exempted, accept that it is an essential part of working life.
However, the recent hiccup in our tax system has thrown us all into renewed grumblings about our necessary payments to help the country. While some of the implications are obvious - individuals set to be up to £100 a month worse off, combined with National Insurance rises, VAT increase etc etc - it seems to me that people just feel a bit like the tax man has given us a collective slap in the face. It's not about the money, it's a matter of principle.
It is a very similar feeling to being in a one-sided relationship which is never going to make you happy. The partner in this union (HMRC) takes what it wants (sorry, needs) out of your pocket, albeit in a civil manner, but still in a 'don't question me' type of way.
If, as it sometimes happens, they realise (after some prompting from you) that they owe you something back, the downtrodden half of this union is often left to send a polite request to have it back, followed by a less polite request, followed by an expletive, before being told when, precisely, they will get it back... eventually, and on HMRC's terms.
To give HMRC their dues, in this instance they have promised to
pay back the money they owe by cheque within seven days of the
letter. Let's see. As a famous TV curmudgeon might have said, I
don't believe it.
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