The Damocles effect

THE LEGEND OF Damocles tells of a courtier who changed places with the king for a day. He was enjoying the high life until he looked up and saw a sword hanging over his head suspended by a single hair. As this was contrary to health and safety regulations he claimed constructive dismissal and returned to his former job (something may have been lost in my translation).
I wonder how many self-employed traders are in the position of my recently-acquired client Harry. I am working up to telling him to look up; he needs to know what's hanging over him. There are other legends about messengers who bring bad news being shot — Damocles might prefer to keep his eyes firmly horizontal.

A good old year-end

Harry's problems flow from having a 30 April year-end. Everyone knows the benefit of that — you pay tax later as your...