Self Assesment (was Re: Backdoor government key escrow?)

[Tom Thomson]

> I took part in the "trial" of electronic VAT returns. It was clear
> that it was not a trial, because they were going to go ahead whether
> the thing worked or not.
>
> My conclusion at the end of every response to them was that I would
> continue using the paper based system as it was faster and more
> equitable.
>
> The Westminster government has made it clear that they will deal with
> people like me by using threats. These are gentle threats of the "you
> can save money by using this service" sort.

I tried the Income Tax one this year because I had time on my hands.  It's
appallingly clunky and takes five or six times as long as doing it on
paper.   If they do get the take-up of electronic filing up towards target
it's going to be even more clunky, isn't it? I wonder what sort of threats
they will use to get Joe Public to take it up. They're already using
something along the lines of "it'll take longer for us to pay back the
money we owe you if you don't use this appallingly slow and inconvenient
system", but to me that just suggests I should be more careful to arrange
my tax affairs so that I owe them money at the end of each year, instead
of them owing me some.

CMT