The recent snowy weather produced something of a contra temps between HMRC and some members of the farming community.
HMRC told the National Farmers Union not to use the lower-tax fuel when gritting.
Under current rules farmers can only grit roads if using tractors powered by white diesel (which is fully-taxed).
Red diesel can only be used in tractors on farmers' own farm tracks, or on public roads to clear routes of snow to allow feed deliveries or milk collections.
However, when a farmer intends to use grit on a clear road as a preventative measure he must use white diesel (ie drain his tank of red first and replace it with white).
Fair enough under normal circumstances.
However, during the coldest snap in thirty years or so do you not think that some common sense could have been applied and the rule temporarily put into abeyance?
Tax does have to be taxing.
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Common sense is one phrase.
ReplyDeleteOthers are -a bit of savvy. Initiative, gumption, use your loaf, imagination, flexibility. Sound judgement.
All alien to HMRC numpties.
You could always ask your MP to change the legislation.
ReplyDelete"You could always ask your MP to change the legislation."
ReplyDeleteAnd what makes you think they would listen?
"And what makes you think they would listen?"
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't. But this blog regularly critisises anything that suggests HMRC interpret tax law as laid down by parliament or become involved in writing or advising on legislation.
Phrases like:
"This change in the rules undermines parliament's right to legislate."
"Slowly but surely HMRC are attempting to put themselves above statute and parliament, and take on the role of judge, jury and executioner wrt taxation and the interpretation of tax law."
"Issues wrt tax legislation are for the elected members parliament to address, not the unelected bureaucrats of HMRC."
Those who do not know HMRC will think they had better things to to than this, but the most important issue here is compliance. Do as you are told, or else!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to suspected tax evasion, the Pavlovian instinct takes over. Common sense has nothing to do with it. Farmers are used to dealing with bovine excrement and will deal with this in the same way I suspect.
With motorists avoiding using the roads during the cold snap HMRC has to give it's Road Fuels Testers something to do. Can't have people standing idle. That's against pacesetter (LEAN)
ReplyDelete"With motorists avoiding using the roads during the cold snap HMRC has to give it's Road Fuels Testers something to do. Can't have people standing idle. That's against pacesetter (LEAN)"
ReplyDeleteCould they not have been used in a call center? at least it would be warmer for them.
I echo what one of the other anonymous posters believes. They cant win on this site.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 20 January 2010 18:59
ReplyDeletesaid: I echo what one of the other anonymous posters believes. They cant win on this site.
the clue is in the name of this site "HMRC Is Shite"
"I echo what one of the other anonymous posters believes. They cant win on this site."
ReplyDeleteYou are looking for one of the other sites:
www.hmrcisajollygoodorganisation.com
www.hmrcmanagementgiveatossabouttheirstaff.com
To the previous two posters -
ReplyDeleteSo any criticism of HMRC doesn't need to be justified or fair?
None of the criticisms made so far are based on any beliefs or principles about how taxation in this country should be handled? If HMRC do interpret rules its wrong and if they don't its wrong. If they offer advice its wrong and if they don't its wrong.
If the original poster and some of his regular contributors are just attacking them no matter what they do and swapping opinions to suit each situation it makes any points made irrelevant at best. If you are going to express them publicly it should at least be worth the time and effort to read. It is a pity because there is so much worthy of criticism you could write pages about it.