.png)
.png)
Too complicated
One third of UK taxpayers find the self-assessment forms difficult to complete according to recent research commissioned on behalf of The Chartered Institute of Taxation. The research interviewed a random sample of 1,000 taxpayers and found that 67% of taxpayers polled, complete the form themselves. 42% said they found it 'very' or 'fairly' difficult to understand whether they are paying the right amount of tax. Unsurprisingly, the survey found that 89% of people thought that the tax system should be simplified.
John Cullinane, CIOT president, said that the forms and guides reflect the complexity of the UK tax system, but that before they can be simplified, the system needs to be 'simpler and clearer'. Just 'making the forms easier could in fact lead to people getting their tax return wrong'. He welcomed the acknowledgment in the Budget of the need for simplification and added that the CIOT would continue to work with the Treasury and HMRC to achieve this.
CIOT press release dated 8 May 2007
