News0 min ago
Time to reintroduce democracy into Britain?
2 Answers
Me old mucker recently received a tax demand for money he hasn't yet earned. If he doesn't pay up, they will charge him interest. If he pays up and subsequently proves he didn't owe in the first place, they will give him his money back, but won't pay HIM interest! One rule for us and another for them?
Phil replied thus:
Dear Sirs,
ref ********
I am in receipt of your demand for advance payment for a debt which has not been proven to have been incurred. Please note that the demand arrived several days after the indicated deadline.
Brief perusal of my tax return will make it clear why I do not have the means to pay the amount demanded. Disabled and on a very low income, I am neither inclined nor able to give whomever may demand it an advance on monies that I may, or may not, owe them in the future.
In almost every other area of law your letter would be considered the equivalent of extortion or demanding money with menaces, both of which potentially carry a prison sentence. By any normal standards (what am I saying ????) your demand would be considered both legally and morally indefensible.
To summarise: I do not have the money to pay. I shall ensure that at such time as I can be proven to owe tax on income actually received I shall make every effort to pay the amount actually and proven to be owed within the required time scale.
I shall be happy to pay the requested amount in full providing the HM Revenue pays me on account the sum of �1,000 against the tax rebate to which I may or may not become entitled in the future. Should I not become entitled to said rebate I shall, of course, refund the payment without adding interest.
Sincerely,
Phil *******
Phil replied thus:
Dear Sirs,
ref ********
I am in receipt of your demand for advance payment for a debt which has not been proven to have been incurred. Please note that the demand arrived several days after the indicated deadline.
Brief perusal of my tax return will make it clear why I do not have the means to pay the amount demanded. Disabled and on a very low income, I am neither inclined nor able to give whomever may demand it an advance on monies that I may, or may not, owe them in the future.
In almost every other area of law your letter would be considered the equivalent of extortion or demanding money with menaces, both of which potentially carry a prison sentence. By any normal standards (what am I saying ????) your demand would be considered both legally and morally indefensible.
To summarise: I do not have the money to pay. I shall ensure that at such time as I can be proven to owe tax on income actually received I shall make every effort to pay the amount actually and proven to be owed within the required time scale.
I shall be happy to pay the requested amount in full providing the HM Revenue pays me on account the sum of �1,000 against the tax rebate to which I may or may not become entitled in the future. Should I not become entitled to said rebate I shall, of course, refund the payment without adding interest.
Sincerely,
Phil *******
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Thanks lexie, but I know where to find sections in AB!
Perhaps you missed some of the Irony in my friend's reply to HM Revenue. I was actually inviting not-too-serious discussion on how we are no longer a democratic nation. For instance, our no longer being able to protest outside the Houses of Parliament.
Nobody wanted the invasion of Iraq but they still invaded.
Perpetrators of crime are given more rights than the victims........... yada yada yada!
Perhaps you missed some of the Irony in my friend's reply to HM Revenue. I was actually inviting not-too-serious discussion on how we are no longer a democratic nation. For instance, our no longer being able to protest outside the Houses of Parliament.
Nobody wanted the invasion of Iraq but they still invaded.
Perpetrators of crime are given more rights than the victims........... yada yada yada!
1 to 2 of 2
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