The unrepresented

There is a widespread public misconception that people on low incomes don’t have tax problems.

To help counter this Taxation will include an occasional feature to explore the complex tax problems that can confront vulnerable people on very low incomes.

These are people who need professional advice but cannot afford to pay for it. Two charities help people in that situation: TaxAid (for working-age people) and Tax Help for Older People (for the over-60s). The following are examples of their work.

Smoking gun

Clients often bring a mountain of papers which can be time-consuming to review but they may contain a gem.

In 2013 Sally retired from a career in marketing to care for her adult son who has bipolar disorder. She receives carer’s allowance of £61 a week some other benefits and a widow’s pension. She was terrified by continuing tax demands which had...