In a strange twist the BBC has an article about a surprising double standard that is applied to taxes in the UK.
From BBC:
Concerns about data security have been raised after it emerged celebrities, Royals and MPs are blocked from submitting income tax returns online.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) admitted “high profile” individuals must submit forms by post because they are judged to require extra protection.
But critics said equal treatment should apply to all 3m self-assessment users.
Mark Wallace of the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “This is a completely unacceptable double standard.”
So, if you are a high roller or a celebrity you can’t submit your taxes online for fear of data theft. But, it’s OK for the average person to do so.
This smells like low tide at the pier.
Are the folks at HMRC so unsure of their security that they would rather risk the Joe Average’s of the world? The logic being if something were to go wrong it’s easier to hush up the average Joe? Heaven forbid should Hugh Grant (would he stop making movies?) get his personal info tax info splashed across the from page of the tabloids.
The HMRC should really have a good long look at the canvas they’re painting. It appears that they’re short on even strokes.
[tags]UK Tax, UK Tax Double Standard, Data Security Data Theft[/tags]