States should step in to ease demands on tax
WE HAVE been told via the media that the States of Guernsey is overwhelmed by the work it is assigned to do and that this explains any tardiness in its ability to function efficiently and accurately.
To add to this we are now informed that a system of assessment is in operation which tells the recipients of such an assessment what the tax department thinks their actual income is before the taxpayer has received that income. This is followed by tax demands based on those estimates.
In my experience all attempts to appeal against these tax assessments, including sending details of costs, expenses and allowances which should be set against revenue, are ignored and the tax demands are enforced.
As well as corresponding with the Tax office, I have telephoned them and spoken to a very pleasant gentleman who told me that all appeals will be processed and any refunds sent to the appellants ‘in due course’. When due course is to be he was unable to say.
Isn’t it time our States stepped in and restored order and efficiency before Tax finds it needs to go two years in advance with assessments and thus disappears under mountains of appeals and repeated income submissions and challenges from the tax-paying public?
PETER BEBBINGTON
Address withheld.