This week's opinion: 17 October 2024

There’s a strange irony in HMRC’s decision to close if only temporarily its digital route for claiming expenses while at the same pushing ahead with its digital strategy. I understand the reasoning of course – there have been too many examples of online rogue claims companies submitting wholly spurious expense claims leaving their ‘clients’ out of pocket when they find the claim was invalid and they can’t get their fee back.

Making a few clicks with a mouse is so much easier than filling in a form. I’ve just looked back with some horror on the number of Amazon purchases I have made over the years. I am sure that had I had to order them by filling in a form and posting it the number of orders would have been much reduced. I have only myself to blame for making too many clicks but...