So I got a circular email from my accountant informing me that I'd avoided being caught inn HMRC's new digital accounting protocols for the next tax year.
'Thankfully' my self-employed income was too low to qualify me for the 2025-2026 tax year. But even if my income is super-low for the following tax year everyone who has some self-employed income will have to to digital tax returns starting the 2027-28 tax year.
It's offensive...
Under this new regime any sole trader and/ or landlord with a rental income will have to report their earnings and expenses quarterly AND do an annual summary return on top of that.
This is colonisation of the lifeworld gone insane - this sort of micro-surveillance is going to be a massive pain the arse to millions.
Doing one's tax returns is a mind-dumbing and depressing task, best dealt with as infrequently as possible, and frankly once a year is just about bearable. Four plus one times a year makes you confront this shitty system way too often.
Compared to just employees who don't even have to think about this, it's appalling.
Double Standards...
I know from my MP's work that this kind of reporting isn't going to be returned in kind. There are so many people I've helped get refunds from the HMRC when they've been waiting MONTHS following submitting an annual tax return, I can't see this extra reporting helping in any way.
And the problems...
Many self employed people have variable income, a lot of work is seasonal, and if you're making large capital expenses, like vans for example, if you're doing quarterly accounting this is in no way going to reflect your annual income, which would be reflected in, well, ANNUAL INCOME.
I'm one of these workers - high income March - June, low income July - September, having my tax payments adjusted because of this four times a year simply isn't going to help anyone, it's just ridiculous.
What's the point of this?
Is it just state actors saying a big fuck you to the little guys?
I don't know I can't see any actual gain from this?
HMRC Wankers.