Many might argue that the 'silly season' never ends when it comes to news about tax.

In which case, it's simply ramping up for the approaching Christmas holidays.
Exhibit one is the Guardian's 'Church invokes archaic tax to fund repairs' - which turns out not to be a tax at all, but a chancel repair, a liability that may force homeowners to contribute to their local church's upkeep.

Take the Daily Express as exhibit two: today's front page reads, hilariously, 'Now a tax on tree houses'.

The truth is that the titular constructions might - just might, if plans go ahead - lead to an increase of a house's council tax by adding a little bit of value to the property.

It's back to the Grauniad for the third and final piece of proof of burgeoning Yuletide daftness: 'American farmers are creating a stink over a proposed "cow tax" that would penalise them for owning belching and flatulent cattle and pigs'.

Smells like the sillier season is well and truly under way.

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