Our petition against the government’s plan to take tax directly from bank accounts is one of the fastest growing on the epetitions website. If you haven’t already signed it, please do.

But if you have already signed it, what else can you do?

If you are on Twitter or use other social media, please publicise it to others, using #APowerTooFar.

And what about writing to your clients and encouraging them to sign it? After all, it is more likely to be their bank accounts that are affected rather than yours.

Some accountants have already done that, and have had a tremendous response from their clients. Paul Aplin, a former ICAEW Tax Faculty chairman and a partner in a West Country practice has emailed a number of clients who have all been quick to sign the petition and to thank him for giving them an opportunity to express their concerns.

The comments he received included:

“Thanks for letting me know about this important issue”

“I agree with your stance entirely, and am glad to be asked to participate and lobby”

“With regard to the petition, now signed - I totally agree with your comments that this could be a very slippery slope”

“Strongly agree – signed”

“Will do. Totally agree with you it's outrageous”

So it turned out to be a very positive engagement with his clients, as well as gathering new signatures for the petition. Why don’t you try emailing a small number of clients to test it out, and then if the response is positive send out a wider email?

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