Pedants' Paradise

[Sir Velo]

I'm still puzzling over what American acquaintances of mine mean when they say that they "will be back momentarily (sic)".

[Pulcinella]

I'm still puzzling over what American acquaintances of mine mean when they say that they "will be back momentarily (sic)".

It's worse when the pilot or air steward announces that the plane will be taking off momentarily!

[Sir Velo]

It's worse when the pilot or air steward announces that the plane will be taking off momentarily!

Doubtless a successful take off is something to be "prideful" about!

[oddoneout]

It's worse when the pilot or air steward announces that the plane will be taking off momentarily!

Especially if you're not in a jump jet...

[Serial_Apologist]

Especially if you're not in a jump jet...

A jump suit might suit.

[LMcD]

I've received a letter from my MP, inviting me to complete a questionnaire. It begins: 'I am writing to you as a pensioner living in Suffolk Coastal ....' It's good to know that she lives in the constituency she represents,, but I didn't realize that she was that old!

[french frank]

I've received a letter from my MP, inviting me to complete a questionnaire. It begins: 'I am writing to you as a pensioner living in Suffolk Coastal ....' It's good to know that she lives in the constituency she represents,, but I didn't realize that she was that old!

[Pulcinella]

The changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines announced by HMRC will now all be halted while it “engages with stakeholders”. This means the phone lines will remain open between April and September.

Would the stakeholders happen to be us lowly taxpayers by any chance?
Or HMG, which rakes the money in?
What a crazy plan in the first place!

[Serial_Apologist]

The changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines announced by HMRC will now all be halted while it “engages with stakeholders”. This means the phone lines will remain open between April and September.

Would the stakeholders happen to be us lowly taxpayers by any chance?
Or HMG, which rakes the money in?
What a crazy plan in the first place!

I would associate the notion of "stakeholders" with privatisation in the 1980s, and its clever promotion by the Thatcher/Major government as a step up from nationalisation in terms of personal choice and control over our collective fate!

[gradus]

Who is this Miss Cheevus that regularly appears?

[LMcD]

Who is this Miss Cheevus that regularly appears?

I think she's Miss Noma's cousin and Miss Hap's auntie.

[cria]

I would associate the notion of "stakeholders" with privatisation ...

l would associate the notion of"stakeholders" with well pissed men setting fire to nice food on a BBQ ...

[oddoneout]

The changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines announced by HMRC will now all be halted while it “engages with stakeholders”. This means the phone lines will remain open between April and September.

Would the stakeholders happen to be us lowly taxpayers by any chance?
Or HMG, which rakes the money in?
What a crazy plan in the first place!

Yes - but that's not who they'll be engaging with I suspect - or not in ways that are beneficial. Simply shutting down a service that is causing HMRC problemsis a solution from its point of view, and let's face it if the views of the financial professionals who need to, but cannot, access HMRC on behalf of their clients are ignored then we stand no chance. As has been pointed out it is poor timing as so many more people are now being drawn into needing to engage with HMRC - static personal allowances catching up with pensioners not previously required to pay tax, and self-assessment for instance.

I have renewed my stakeholder status today, with the purchase of some heavy duty steel poles for the garden...

[Pulcinella]

Yes - but that's not who they'll be engaging with I suspect - or not in ways that are beneficial. Simply shutting down a service that is causing HMRC problemsis a solution from its point of view, and let's face it if the views of the financial professionals who need to, but cannot, access HMRC on behalf of their clients are ignored then we stand no chance. As has been pointed out it is poor timing as so many more people are now being drawn into needing to engage with HMRC - static personal allowances catching up with pensioners not previously required to pay tax, and self-assessment for instance.

I have renewed my stakeholder status today, with the purchase of some heavy duty steel poles for the garden...

There has been a U-turn, I understand!
It will still be just as difficult to get through, though, I imagine.

[oddoneout]

There has been a U-turn, I understand!
It will still be just as difficult to get through, though, I imagine.

Indeed - unless you are eligible to use the PD1 helpline... Mind you I would have thought most of those wouldn't be handling their tax affairs personally anyway?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/28/tax-hotline-allows-mps-and-vips-to-skip-the-queues-at-hmrc