BN66 - Time to fight back (Chapter 3)

[DonkeyRhubarb]

I assume the only people now who can infuence the decision are the panel on the judicial review and, the ECHR when it gets there.

And (just maybe) the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

The MPs seem to tow the line that it is now law so they can't do anything to help. My MP didn't even bother responding to any of my letters after the 2nd one (six letters now sent).

MPs are pretty powerless. Perhaps this explains why so many of them have been fiddling expenses (idle hands etc.)

I don't think we will get any sympathy from the public or the reporters. Any of my friends/collegues to whom I have spoken to about it have responded with 'serves you right'.

You are right. Just because we have been treated even more harshly than MPs doesn't make us any better than them in the public's eye.

[poppy01]

I assume the only people now who can infuence the decision are the panel on the judicial review and, the ECHR when it gets there.

The MPs seem to tow the line that it is now law so they can't do anything to help. My MP didn't even bother responding to any of my letters after the 2nd one (six letters now sent).

If we did a protest, who would our target audience be? and can they be of any help to us?

I don't think we will get any sympathy from the public or the reporters. Any of my friends/collegues to whom I have spoken to about it have responded with 'serves you right'.

helen7 that post wraps it up for me, you are hmrc. I have had nothing but expressions of disbelief from everyone I know that the govt thinks it can get away with this, stop the pretence... I for one would welcome direct and honest dialogue with someone from the dark side....

[helen7]

helen7 that post wraps it up for me, you are hmrc. I have had nothing but expressions of disbelief from everyone I know that the govt thinks it can get away with this, stop the pretence... I for one would welcome direct and honest dialogue with someone from the dark side....

Eh? I don't know how you draw that conclusion. You may have disbelief; but they have done it and we can't be in denial of that.

I think I am correct in saying that thus far the MPs have not been able to help us since the finance bill ammendments have been made and approved. Can MPs overturn existing legislation? Therefore my assumption is that only the JR and ECHR can help us now.

I simply think that any publicity will not help us. I have a lot of money riding on this (300k) and I don't want to see our cause in the papers as they are bound to paint us as tax dodgers (which if you explain to anyone what we have done, is what they call us).

Since Conservatives WILL get in next year, I think we should fight for there commitment to drop this AND IR35.

[helen7]

Oh, and turn to the person on your right and ask them for sympathy...see what they think.

[BrilloPad]

Oh, and turn to the person on your right and ask them for sympathy...see what they think.

To my right is a brick wall!

Its still more intelligent than the users though..........

[ASB]

Can MPs overturn existing legislation?

Of course. They do it all the time.

[poppy01]

Eh? I don't know how you draw that conclusion. You may have disbelief; but they have done it and we can't be in denial of that.

I think I am correct in saying that thus far the MPs have not been able to help us since the finance bill ammendments have been made and approved. Can MPs overturn existing legislation? Therefore my assumption is that only the JR and ECHR can help us now.

I simply think that any publicity will not help us. I have a lot of money riding on this (300k) and I don't want to see our cause in the papers as they are bound to paint us as tax dodgers (which if you explain to anyone what we have done, is what they call us).

Since Conservatives WILL get in next year, I think we should fight for there commitment to drop this AND IR35.

dont believe you

[OnYourBikeGB]

Eh? I don't know how you draw that conclusion. You may have disbelief; but they have done it and we can't be in denial of that.

I think I am correct in saying that thus far the MPs have not been able to help us since the finance bill ammendments have been made and approved. Can MPs overturn existing legislation? Therefore my assumption is that only the JR and ECHR can help us now.

I simply think that any publicity will not help us. I have a lot of money riding on this (300k) and I don't want to see our cause in the papers as they are bound to paint us as tax dodgers (which if you explain to anyone what we have done, is what they call us).

Since Conservatives WILL get in next year, I think we should fight for there commitment to drop this AND IR35.

I think helen7 is right on the sympathy bit. The MPs aren't getting too much sympathy for claiming they were acting within the rules. True, they're getting it more than we would because they are seen as holier than thou, but no-one is going to pat us on the back and say well done, most people have no control over their taxes its straight out of their pay, they'll just be resentful.

The only chance we would have of getting any support would be to highlight the hypocrisy and double standards of it, but the general public would see that as a way to getting the MPs to pay up, not to let them and us off. Likewise with the banks and DRs work digging out BN60. They won't want to let us off, they'll want the banks to pay.

I'd love some MPs to lose everything over this, just like they have done to us. It gets trickier to argue if we win our case, though. Leaving aside for a moment they were claiming money that they was not earned by their efforts, unlike ourselves, they were following the rules as laid down. If they weren't they should be prosecuted for fraud and with a bit of luck, jailed. I doubt that will happen. But if they were playing the rules to their advantage, as seems to have been the case generally, then following our own arguments, the rules should be changed from now on. Much as I would love them to suffer out of pure revenge, it would weaken our own position. I do love watching them squirm though, gits.

In fact I think they should be suffering much more now. HMRC are very quiet. I got one week to raise £100K or be faced with asset seizure, even though I was still in my appeal period. 50% of my debt is interest, yet they get away with holding their hands up, saying 'fair cop' and just paying it back presumably over a period of their choosing. They are hypocrites and bullies. But no-one will be sympathetic to us because we are being hammered, when Joe Bloggs has no control over his own taxes. Joe won't give a damn about the law, he'll just see us in a similar light to the MPs.

I'm not against more publicity for our cause, but it would need to be very carefully thought through first.

[bombaycat]

Closure Notice and letter from MP in the same post!

Got my first CN on Sunday when I got back from hols (how do they know?) Was for 33k 2005/06, about what I expected - only about 5k was interest which slightly surprised me.
MontP have already sent the appeal and copied me in - very efficient.

So on to the reply from MemParl, usual Timms tulip attached but my MP says:

'I am sure you will be as disappointed as I am with this technical and bland response. While I recognise the need for the Government to collect due taxes, I feel the real hardship experienced by many families and individuals is being ignored under the claims of a "fair", "proportionate" response in the "public interest". Please rest assured that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I shall continue to pressure the Government on this matter whenever as appropriate time arises.'

I have been invited to her surgery also so am preparing (with an appropriate letter from DR) to get that booked.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

'I am sure you will be as disappointed as I am with this technical and bland response. While I recognise the need for the Government to collect due taxes, I feel the real hardship experienced by many families and individuals is being ignored under the claims of a "fair", "proportionate" response in the "public interest". Please rest assured that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I shall continue to pressure the Government on this matter whenever as appropriate time arises.'

I have been invited to her surgery also so am preparing (with an appropriate letter from DR) to get that booked.

The Lib Dems have been by far the most helpful and proactive from all the feedback people have given me. It's a shame they couldn't form the next Government.