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Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by robertlagrant on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @09:13AM (#27905775)
Worth noting that if someone is a contractor they'll need to file taxes, even if they pay themselves a lower wage (and thus wouldn't show up in the high earners stats). If they're an NHS doctor/nurse who also does some private work, same. Or anyone who has more than one employer, or is in the gig economy. It's not vast swathes of people, but I think it'd be more than 2 or 3%.
Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by tialaramex on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @09:32AM (#27905993)
No. I don't like paperwork. So, I don't do paperwork.

It can be more tax efficient to file tax paperwork, but I don't want to do paperwork, so I just had an umbrella employ me when somebody insisted on hiring me as a "contractor" and the umbrella handled the paperwork for which of course they keep a fee. As far as the government is concerned I just had two PAYE employers, the umbrella and my "real" job.

Having multiple employers also does not require filing taxes. One of the employers gets given a zero tax code and they tax all your pay at full rate, the other one gets a normal tax code which reflects your personal allowance and other considerations. My tax code was oscillating all over the place - but that's not a problem it's all automated.

If you love paperwork you can choose to do all the paperwork. Or if you love money and don't hate paperwork maybe you can save a few hundred quid by filing and I hope it makes you happy. I hate paperwork, and I have plenty of money. So, no, despite earning a lot of money and having worked as a contractor I preferred to stick with PAYE.

Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by robertlagrant on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @09:36AM (#27906050)
I don't think you need to love paperwork or money. Just employ an accountant for a few hours a year.
Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by tialaramex on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @09:59AM (#27906367)
Filling out paperwork for the accountant to look at is still paperwork.

The HMRC will take a fair cut of my gross income, which is fine, and then leave me alone whereas an accountant earns money by bothering me with more paperwork.

Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by robertlagrant on Monday July 26, 2021 @06:58AM (#27957963)
> The HMRC will take a fair cut of my gross income

How do you know it's fair?

Re:Good Riddance, TurboTax. Americans Need a Real ‘Free File... by chrisseaton on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @11:25AM (#27907556)
The accountant fills out the paperwork for you.

Accountants don’t bother you - once a year they ask you to sign your accounts.