In the lead up to the 31 January Tax Return deadline The Smart Frog becomes more popular than usual amongst friends. Friends who need help with their Tax Returns at the last minute. That's not a problem, of course, because The Smart Frog does like to help out whenever he can.
This week a friend had been trying to complete his Tax Return online using HMRC's 'intuitive' online software and, boy oh boy, what a pullava. Suffice to say, he eventually gave up and so sought my help. After 3 hours online, being thrown out several times in the process, we finally finished what would have taken 3 minutes using our own specialist Tax Return software.
Preparing a Tax Return is easy when you know the tax law inside out and prepare Tax Returns day in day out. But for a layman doing it once a year it is a completely different story. I hadn't appreciated this quite so much until I actually tried to help my friend this week and all I can say is that I wouldn't want to be a non-expert trying to grapple with the ever-increasing complexities of the UK tax system and accompanying tax forms. And god forbid anyone who actually gets it wrong - penalties galore for non-compliance or for getting it wrong.
I shouldn't complain. The more complicated the tax system and the Tax Return process then the more The Smart Frog is in demand, and it does keep the wolf from the door. But, please, please Mr Taxman, give us a break and tidy up your online sysems a bit. We all have better things to do with our time.
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