Are the Brittish citizens going to allow this to happen?

[Devastatin Dave]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39265847
Guess you guys over there in merry ol' England shouldn't have fought so hard against the Germans.... twice....

[HoreTore]

I see absolutely no problem with this. But I guess the only reason why someone would see this as problematic, would be if they see govenment as teh evilz.

Seriouely, this is a non-issue politically, this is a purely technical issue. The treasury simply isn't interested in trying to get as much tax as possible, their only concern is to make sure that you pay as correctly as possible. Whether they give or take money is irrelevant to them. As an example; try giving them more than you are supposed to pay. They money will be repaid, on the dollar, with interest.

The only problem I see with this, is that it might eliminate the possibility of paying a higher monthly tax in order to get a high refund. But that's a lazy way of saving money anyway...

[HoreTore]

Also, I find it hilarious that over half the article is qoutes from a guy working at a company which would lose a lot of business with such a plan, while it doesn't pay much attention to what the taxpayers alliance has to say, which is a highly credible organization.

My bet as to why? The taxpayer alliance's spokesman sounds like he's positive, and that dorsn't fit the "governmentz are teh evilz"-angle of the article.

[Beskar]

What to know what is amusing, it was only an idea some one had. It would never happen, due to the costs of such a system alone would far exceed any money gained.

Americans, getting in their knickers in a twist over something that would never even happen. Perhaps having ideas or just putting random proposals on the table is seen as a bad think over there, but over in the United Kingdom, we like to have all options there and go for the best one.

A proposal like this would get glanced at, then thrown away anyway.

In short: Non-issue.

[Slyspy]

The article is correct in one thing: HMRC (or any government department) could never get such a large computer system working. They'd get the usual incompetent contractors to do the usual shoddy work, then act all surprised when it never gets off the ground. HMRC can barely use the systems they have now, mostly due to a shortage of staff, hence all the mistakes.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Or more likely blows up, and equally likely when pieces of it get found in the hands of tabloid journalists who said “drinks on me” to the HMRC staff on Friday.

[rory_20_uk]

The government is already incapable of getting the NHS computer service, the social support computer service... and I'm sure the list goes on. In benefits they manage to get it wrong ot the tune of a few billion a year.

And what, prey tell, when I don't get paid one month? As it's the government who has screwed up I've got no one to speed things along. Of course none of my bills will also suddenly stop so I'll get heavily fined for non-payment. And of course I'll not get a refund because of this.

In an ideal world sure, why not? But in this world it's a disaster waiting to happen. The government should be concentrating on doing less activities well, not adding more things that they'll do poorly.

[al Roumi]

yeah this sounds like the classic "option C" of a proposal from civil servants to government ministers, where A and C are crazy things and B is the only real "option" that would work. This was probably leaked too.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

The government is already incapable of getting the NHS computer service, the social support computer service... and I'm sure the list goes on. In benefits they manage to get it wrong ot the tune of a few billion a year.

And what, prey tell, when I don't get paid one month? As it's the government who has screwed up I've got no one to speed things along. Of course none of my bills will also suddenly stop so I'll get heavily fined for non-payment. And of course I'll not get a refund because of this.

In an ideal world sure, why not? But in this world it's a disaster waiting to happen. The government should be concentrating on doing less activities well, not adding more things that they'll do poorly.

This is my view, the bolded part especially. The government can't be trusted to do this properly, and even if they could HMRC staff would start creaming money off for themselves sooner or later.

[Strike For The South]

Dave, I liked it better when you made dick jokes. Fatalism doesnt suit you

[Devastatin Dave]

Dave, I liked it better when you made dick jokes. Fatalism doesnt suit you

Well in that case...

"Doctor, won't you please kiss me?" asks the patient.

"No. You're a very beautiful woman, but it's against my code of ethics," replies the doctor.

"Please, just one kiss," she pleads.

"Sorry," says the doctor. "It's totally out of the question. I shouldn't even be ####ing you."

[Skullheadhq]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39265847
Guess you guys over there in merry ol' England shouldn't have fought so hard against the Germans.... twice....

Why do you hate Germany?

[Hosakawa Tito]

What, me worry?

[InsaneApache]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Devastatin Dave]

Give me a "S", give me a "P", give me a "A", give me a "M"... What's it spell!?!?!?!?

[Beskar]

Give me a "S", give me a "P", give me a "A", give me a "M"... What's it spell!?!?!?!?

MAPS!

[Crazed Rabbit]

Germany might not be any better...

BERLIN (Reuters) – A German restaurant operator has run into trouble with local tax authorities because he makes larger-than-average schnitzels -- or veal cutlets -- for his customers in a working class section of Saxony.
Gerhard Kaltscheuer said his giant schnitzels are popular in the town of Hammerbruecke and he sells about 70 dishes per day. He said tax officials told him they believe he sells 200 portions daily based on the amount of raw material he purchases.
"If I served the customers smaller portions at the normal price like that, I wouldn't have any customers because that wouldn't fill them up," Kaltscheuer told Reuters. He said he makes his portions large because his customers are laborers.
Kaltscheuer said he is protesting a demand from the tax authorities to pay more tax based on a higher number of food sales. His story has been reported widely in the German media and there was a rally on his behalf on Monday.
A spokesman for the tax office, asked about Kaltscheuer's case, said that he was not able to discuss it.

CR

[Beskar]

It is interesting that his steaks are 2.5 times bigger than the competitors.

[Sarmatian]

Almost exact same system existed in communist Yugoslavia and later in Milosevic's Serbia. Doesn't work, it's bulky and crude and it creates more bureaucracy than needed. It only allows government a few days (or weeks) to do with that money whatever it wants before it leaves their hands.

The system was scrapped in 2000.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Germany might not be any better...


CR

It is interesting that his steaks are 2.5 times bigger than the competitors.

Sounds like schnitzel envy to me.

[Skullheadhq]

Never heard of Brittish anyway, where do they come from? Brittsland?

[Strike For The South]

It is interesting that his steaks are 2.5 times bigger than the competitors.

Here in America we call that a "selling point"

Have you even seen man V food?

Did your mum hug you as a child?

[rory_20_uk]

I've also seen your rates of obesity. Is food addictive? Ye Gods! Any excuse to get away from the real problem that unless you do some exercise you'll blow up like an... American. And the number of bloaters who have got so obese that they've decided to use scooters to what? Preserve their strength for the next meal?

Oh yes, food is addictive as the more you eat, the fewer dopamine receptors you have, requiring to eat more for the same "high"... the only effective cure to replace the receptors is exercise.

[Strike For The South]

I've also seen your rates of obesity. Is food addictive? Ye Gods! Any excuse to get away from the real problem that unless you do some exercise you'll blow up like an... American. And the number of bloaters who have got so obese that they've decided to use scooters to what? Preserve their strength for the next meal?

Oh yes, food is addictive as the more you eat, the fewer dopamine receptors you have, requiring to eat more for the same "high"... the only effective cure to replace the receptors is exercise.

Look at me, I'm a doctor, I have a fancy degree in medicine.

Are you saying people shouldn't be able to serve massive portions?

[Tellos Athenaios]

Sounds like schnitzel envy to me.

More like doubts about the veracity of his claims about schnitzel size.

[InsaneApache]

All this talk of massive portions and schnitzel envy has given me a craving for spotted dick.

[Beskar]

Here in America we call that a "selling point

Sure, if you want your selling point to bankrupt you.

[Louis VI the Fat]

All this talk of massive portions and schnitzel envy has given me a craving for spotted dick.

Would you like some baguette with that?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

LEAVE US ALONE
EVIL GOVERNMENT!!

[Brenus]

"Would you like some baguette with that?"
No