UK Tax and Customs

[AlanHo]

A friend who works in the local Tax office phoned to say there had just been an internal announcement that the Inland Revenue and Customs organisation is the be completely erradicated by 2010.

The announcement lacked any information regarding what will take it place.

Understandably - this has caused great consternation with staff - some of whom, like my friend, are due to retire in the near future and may have lost their jobs by then.

[gordythegouge]

Sorry for your friend........perhaps... but for most of us.....this is a flagwaving, bunting displayed,marching behind brass bands type of moment.......yeeeeehaaaH!

A more inefficient, paperwasting, shower of incompetents...I have never come across!!!

(Do you think I may have been a bit strong there?......Tsk, Tsk!)

[andsome]

I dread to think what will take its place.

[AlanHo]

I don't know what the government's agenda on this one is all about - but let's fantasize a little.

At present excise duty on tobacco has been bringing in billions in duty - but with so many people either being inconsiderate enough to die from smoking related illnesses or others giving up smoking tobacco because it is so expensive with duty added and thus moving on to wacky baccy - revenue is falling and now possibly costs more to collect than they receive.

Brussels have announced that it is wrong to force people to travel onto the continent to buy cheap booze - they claim that it is legal to buy it from a French supplier and have it shipped here - thus saving UK VAT the relevant UK duty, and the travel costs. It awaits a test case for the government to be forced to comply. In which case, we will all go on the web, order our booze from Tesco or Sainsbury in Calais and get them to deliver it. This will result in a huge loss of revenue for the government and the workload on Customs and Excise will diminish.

There are loads of people today making huge salaries and bonuses - including MP's and ministers. Many rich and heavily taxed people donate monies to New Labour to get amongst their peers. It therefore makes sense to abandon income tax and look after your friends.

So where will their money come from.

Firstly, us motorists have demonstrated that we have a great willingness to make every sacrifice to retain and use our cars willy nilly. We stump up road fund license tax, petrol and derv tax, parking fees, speeding fines, parking fines, high car insurance and congestion charges to name but a few. It will be easy and relatively painless for the government to introduce a whole new raft of charges and taxes on us willing and gullible motorists which will easily exceed the loss of income tax and customs duty.

Another easy source of income is Council Tax. People who live in big houses can afford big bills - so hit 'em hard and when they don't pay, chuck 'em in prison.

The most contentious source of potential income is the Afghan poppy fields. Our army is doing a splendid job subduing the Taleban - but why....?

[catgate]

A bit more fantasising. By 2010 the entire operation could be being run from either

1) Brussels

2) Washington

3] Islamabad

unless we all vote BNP.

Edit:-

I think

A friend who works in the local Tax office phoned to say there had just been an internal announcement that the Inland Revenue and Customs organisation is the be completely erradicated by 2010.

may be a bit off the mark. There is no one currently in power who can see any further than their next pay cheque. :)

[AlanHo]

The story is not quite what my friend related - in fact for me it is a welcome culling of bureaucracy.

More info