Inland Revenue Hands Out 'Wrong Kind Of Sweets'

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

20 September 2001

The UK government recently announced that it would be changing the rules regarding the taxation of citizens living in accommodation linked to their occupation, such as policemen, farmers, and the clergy.

According to the Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, from 9th October this year workers living in job related housing will be able to have their property disregarded for working families tax credit and disabled persons tax credit purposes. As a general rule, occupation-linked homes are usually disregarded anyway. However, under current legislation, some affected UK citizens are excluded from these tax credits if they own a retirement property, or second house for when they leave their current occupation.

Meanwhile, in the Inland Revenue, which is known throughout the UK for its dignity and avoidance of gimmicks, slogans, and flashy advertising campaigns, tax officials have been handing out sticks of rock in order to promote these, and other tax changes. The sweets have 'Inland Revenue' printed all the way through (alternative suggestions on a postcard to the usual address please!), and the IR says that it believes that they will prove popular, and effectively promote the tax credits people are entitled to. 'It's not often the Inland Revenue gives something away,' observed the body's Communications Manager, John Mahoney.

Dentists, however, have condemned the department's choice of image sweetener, claiming that because rock is eaten over a long period, it causes greater tooth decay than many other types of sweet.

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