'Born to the m-i-i-i-i-i-ld' (To the tune of Steppenwolf's 'Born to be Wild')

Calculator running

Totalling invoices

Looking at debentures

And all other finance choices

Yeah darling, gonna make it add up

Put the world in a big spreadsheet

Do all of my sums at once and

Leave it really neat

Some find accounts frightnin’

Leaves them full of wonder

All of these expenses

Just what heading are they under?

Yeah darling, gonna make it add up

Put the world in a big spreadsheet

Do all of my sums at once and

Leave it really neat

All prop-er-ly filed

I was born, born to be mild

Tax returns so sly

I make the taxman cry

Born to be mi-i-i-ild

Born to be mi-i-i-ild

Calculator running

Totalling invoices

Looking at debentures

And all other finance choices

Yeah darling, gonna make it add up

Put the world in a big spreadsheet

Do all of my sums at once and

Leave it really neat

All properly filed

I was born, born to be mild

Tax returns so sly

I make the taxman cry

Born to be mi-i-i-ild

Born to be mi-i-i-ild

Words by accountant and poet: Stephen Brown Audio version can be heard here.

It's official: HMRC writes "ridiculous" "nonsense"

Given this is a fun blog it's not usual for me to reference the decision in a tax tribunal. But it was impossible to resist when I heard about what the tribunal said.

Mr South was appealing against a late filing penalty in respect of his tax return for 2012/13.  HMRC claimed to have sent him a notice requiring him to file the return in question. The computer then sent an automatic penalty which was what alerted Mr South to the need to file the return.

He was reluctant to pay the late filing penalty as he had not received a 'notice to file' and had not been required to file returns every year in the recent past. 

Mr South then received a rejection of his appeal sent by an official from HMRC who said: 

“On reviewing I can see that no evidence to date has been received confirming that you did not receive a tax return or notice to file.”

In reaching their decision that Mr South did NOT need to pay the penalty the Tribunal said:

The result of [Mr South's] appeal is a piece of nonsense and shows that the appeal was not properly considered by HMRC. It is ridiculous to expect the appellant to produce evidence to show he did not receive the tax return or notice to file. 

Steven Maurice South vs HMRC -12 August 2014

An accountant with a STANDOUT way of describing himself

The way Mark Asquith, Managing Director of Asquith & Co, describes himself, on the meet the team page of his website, certainly makes him stand out. I'm referring especially to the table beneath the more conventional opening paras:

I have been working in accountancy since 1982 having started work as a spotty trainee on leaving school. Asquith & Co became a reality in 2001 although I had previously hankered after being self-employed. 

I love helping clients to keep just on the right side of the taxman while, hopefully, having a few laughs on the way - this is not easy but I do try.

                   Specialist subject:     Saving you money

                   Likes:                        Saving you money

                   Dislikes:                    Not saving you money 

                   Favourite colour:       Black... keeping you in it

                   Favourite food:         Roast taxman 

                   Favourite place:       Judo mat

                   Currently drives:       The taxman crazy

 

A truly taxing palindrome

Sex at noon taxes