Originally Posted by BellaFiga:
“I almost feel sorry for her after reading today's purging. And yet, and yet....
Just going through her list of woes:
1. I thought Nic moved out, so how can it be Nic's boiler?
2. OK yes, it's sad her ceiling fell in. Although it's probably exaggerated for effect.
3. Didn't this exact scnenario happen a few months ago? Surely it can't happen again exactly the same?
4. Again, I call bollocks. Running cold water will not be affected by the heating system, surely.
5. 'the journalist accused me of only paying 25p in the pound of what I owe HMRC, which is not true. The deal is I pay 100p in the pound.' Come again? Nobody pays 100p in the pound you doofus.
6. You haven't heard from David, possibly because you are a total cnt to him.
7. Animal gets old. Yep we've been down here before.
8. Take your fcking anxiety pills if you need to. This being too anxious to take them just looks like attention seeking.
9. Lots of people don't have a car. Deal with it.
It sounds like she's have a dreadful time but I think she is ladling it on with a very big spoon for effect. Going down to the stream for water indeed...”
I think what Jones meant by 5. above in BellFiga's post is that, according to Jones, HMRC are insisting Jones pays back every penny of BACK TAX OWING. Therefore, say she owes £x amount in BACK tax, then she pays £x amount. That is - 100 pennies in every £. This, don't forget, is
back tax that she allegedly OWES, not the tax you and I
currently regularly pay monthly through PAYE or yearly when we send in self employment tax forms. HMRC ALWAYS come top of the list of creditors (unless, say, a firm goes bust, when the employees come top, then HMRC)
I stand to be corrected, but I believe Jones has an IVA. With this,
IF 75 per cent of creditors owed money agree, a sum will be arranged to be paid off, as agreed by 75 per cent of creditors, with the Insolvency Practitioner arranging this. The other 25 per cent of creditors, even if they don't agree, have to fall in with this. The Insolvency Practitioner is duty bound TO KEEP A VERY STRICT EYE on the person's expenditure, including access to bank accounts, savings, etc. etc. See:
https://www.gov.uk/options-for-payin...y-arrangements And believe me, they watch like hawks, they have to ... a good friend has an IVA still in operation (it lasts five years) and he says it's like being under surveillance from the FBI.
So, it IS theoretically possible (but not at all likely!) that HMRC has agreed to take 25 pence in the £ of what Jones allegedly owes HMRC in BACK, unpaid tax, not the tax that she's hopefully now paying, as we all have to, on our current earnings. Perhaps more financially literate DSs here will know? But I sort of doubt it ... it looks like her debt is money owing to HMRC in back tax. And HMRC may demand back every penny (and if they settle for just 25 pence in the £, then she's damn lucky - personally, I don't believe HMRC will agree to that).
I've never had an IVA or gone bankrupt, but (sorry to repeat myself here on DS) back in the 1990s, due to my complete misunderstanding of 'Residency' regarding liability to UK tax, I found myself owing a LOT of back tax (three years worth). My darling husband had suddenly died in my arms while we lived abroad, I returned to live in the UK, almost off my head with grief, and then found out I had this tax liability.
My accountants were brilliant - kind and understanding, they'd known my late husband for decades. And so, I have to say, were the people they dealt with at HMRC. I was completely honest, co-operative, held my hands up (to sheer ignorance, grief - plus, accountants pointed out that - suddenly and traumatially widowed, I wasn't quite 'with it') and I paid up - one hundred per cent of what I owed, i.e. I owed £x and I paid up £x ... plus, an extra ten per cent on top of £x owed - a fine - accountants said I was lucky it was 'only' ten percent

HMRC
could have imposed a 100 per cent fine (gulp!)
Yes, I know, quite different to the problems of Jones, whose downfall seems to be her profligacy, living way beyond her means. Even though those 'means' involved earning eye-watering sums of money! But not 'putting a bit away' for tax liabilities etc. is just stupid. Someone else, of course, to blame, as ever ... her accountant, poor devil. plus all those horrible people who do her down etc. etc. blah blah blah when she's just such a lovely, kindly person .... (see today's 'Farticle').
I do actually feel a little bit sorry for her - probably awfully hard to stop living beyond one's means, splashing out on posh bags (mere snip at £1,060 or whatever) and dry cleaning one's undies , collecting animals, and buying country houses ... (by the way, WHO in their right mind installs a new kitchen without - er - a kitchen sink being amongst the first priorities?) And being so damn 'generous' to everyone, then making sure, through her Drearies an Farticles, that they're never allowed to forget it, including her (on? off? )fiancé?
Oh, goodness, sorry to go on so. My inheritance from my darling late husband was somewhat decimated by my tax liability, but I paid up immediately - MY fault for not checking tax status when returning to live in UK. Since then, I've lived within my means - I budget, don't squander on designer 'names', am happy to use Elvive for my greying hair, use the NHS for numerous health problems (and UCLH is bloody WONDERFUL, by the way), love my family and friends - as I always did when I was a journalist and NEVER used them as 'column fodder' or to settle old scores.
Goodness - feeling better for that essay! Going to stagger off to make a cup of coffee (on crutches at the moment - left hip fallen to pieces). Still, at least I DO have a kitchen sink - thought of limping off to nearby 'River Walk' with my kettle would be a bit daunting

