cashinmattress Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Tax office publishes booklet for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders HM Revenue & Customs has come under fire for publishing a booklet aimed at "our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers". Critics have claimed the publication is an unnecessary use of taxpayers' money. The 20-page document, complete with glossy photos of gay couples, primarily gives advice to people in civil partnerships about their tax allowances and inheritance tax thresholds. It also gives advice to transgender people about whether they can claim pensions under their new or old gender and whether people in civil partnerships, who are also claiming Blind Person's Allowance, can transfer their allowance to their partner. A man, entitled to a state pension at the age of 65, could swap sex and claim a pension at the earlier age of 60, because they were now a woman, in the eyes of the taxman. A quarter of the booklet, however, is dedicated to HMRC's record on treating minority groups. A chapter of "Diversity in HMRC" says: "We want to be fully inclusive and we have a range of diversity networks – open to all staff, covering Race, Religion or Belief, Disability, Age, Carers, Gender, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and, because we recognise that gender identity is different to sexual orientation, we're the only government department to give transgender people a voice with their own network." Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the pressure group TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "HMRC is meant to produce simple, clear guidance for everyone, not spend extra money going out of their way to target particular minorities. As for their LGBT recruitment drive, the only thing they should be demanding in staff is an ability to count and an ability not to lose people's private data – beyond that, it surely doesn't matter." There have been 5,000 copies of the booklet printed at a cost of £1,536, which will be distributed at Pride London, the gay festival and march that takes place on July 4. The publication is also available online. Some tax experts, however, pointed out the tax authorities should be applauded for producing a simple, clear guide. Steve Bee, head of pensions strategy at the Royal London Group, said: "Most of the information in the booklet is very useful, though I am doubtful that the people it is aimed at will ever get to see it. Do you really go to Pride to fine out about your tax status?" A spokesman for HMRC said: "HMRC attended Pride events in 2007 and 2008 where our customers told us they wanted information around how aspects of HMRC business affected them specifically, in particular around the introduction of civil partnerships. This booklet has been produced to address that specific customer need.†Why? Can you get tax relief on ******** lube? Size 14 mens stilettos? Doc martins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScaredEitherWay Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Now they just need to pass them onto the Comms Dept to translate into 150 languages ... and then Marketing to book prime time TV slots to advertise it in 15 of those languages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecrashingisles Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Tax office publishes booklet for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders HM Revenue & Customs has come under fire for publishing a booklet aimed at "our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers". I am outraged by this! How dare they describe these people as 'customers'? Taxpayers are born, not made! And to imply they have any choice in the matter just fosters a culture of despair and oppression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blankster Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 If there are any particular tax rules that affect these groups, then it's only fair that information is published. But I agree - taxpayers are not 'customers' and we certainly aren't treated like customers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skinty Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I have to say that this is a complete non-story. Minorities with specific questions about tax issues that only apply to them are given a pamphlet that answers their questions in one place Sounds like the HMRC are doing the right thing. Would the Telegraph be trying to make a story if the pamphlet was for questions specific to disabled people instead? Enough, of the serious stuff. On with the innuendo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Why? Because the best way of telling people theyre equal is treating them differently, so goes liberal thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
non frog Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I have to say that this is a complete non-story..... Pretty much sums up the entire stupid newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonoid Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 It's a bit queer, alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedgefunded Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 And the connection to house prices & the economy is? None. That's why it's in the off-topic forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 None. That's why it's in the off-topic forum. It wasn't when I posted that (and I've deleted that post now). Sometimes its not so much housepricecrash.co.uk as angryfromtunbridgewells.co.uk around here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AuntJess Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 It wasn't when I posted that (and I've deleted that post now).Sometimes its not so much housepricecrash.co.uk as angryfromtunbridgewells.co.uk around here... Is that where all the angry folk come from then? Tunbridge Wells?..... .................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord D'arcy Pew Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Why? Because it's only correct if it's politically correct . Don't expect tax rules for bmp supporters to be published anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedgefunded Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 It wasn't when I posted that (and I've deleted that post now).Sometimes its not so much housepricecrash.co.uk as angryfromtunbridgewells.co.uk around here... I thought about that, but it usually say's 'moved' when a post gets moved between forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaycuckoo Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Minorities with specific questions about tax issues that only apply to them are given a pamphlet that answers their questions in one place I'm the most significant minority - a person. So why don't I receive special tax treatment? I don't understand all the transgender guff, so I guess I should be strung up with rope made out of shredded copies of the Telegraph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest anorthosite Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Why? Because it's only correct if it's politically correct . Don't expect tax rules for bmp supporters to be published anytime soon. Do BNP supporters have tax rules that apply to them? You do accept that there's been a change of law recently don't you that means that a lot of people (who pay tax themselves) might need information on the change of the law and their circumstances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cogs Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Doesn't seem especially unreasonable to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest มร หล Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Tax office publishes booklet for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders Why? Can you get tax relief on ******** lube? Size 14 mens stilettos? Doc martins? I find this very offensive. That HMRC refer to anyone as a 'customer'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bear Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I am outraged by this! How dare they describe these people as 'customers'? Taxpayers are born, not made! And to imply they have any choice in the matter just fosters a culture of despair and oppression. A customer is one who exchanges money for goods or services. A taxpayer is one who parts with money under duress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joeschmo Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Doesn't seem especially unreasonable to me. Quite, why not ? the LGBT community pay taxes as well as breeders ( and dont usually claim much in the way of child benefit and family tax credits either) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeymadman Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 It's really not that unreasonable at all. There are a lot of tax issues surrounding LGBT people that have changed substantially in recent years. A lot of leaflets are produced for specialist targets. There's probably more LGBT people affects by changes that have happened in recent years than share fishermen, but nobody would suggest dropping the NI leaflet for them (I hope...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cogs Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 It's really not that unreasonable at all.There are a lot of tax issues surrounding LGBT people that have changed substantially in recent years. A lot of leaflets are produced for specialist targets. There's probably more LGBT people affects by changes that have happened in recent years than share fishermen, but nobody would suggest dropping the NI leaflet for them (I hope...). They share fishermen? I'm pretty liberal but the line must be drawn somewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potwalloper Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 They share fishermen?I'm pretty liberal but the line must be drawn somewhere! Don't let them off the hook. There should be a safety net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Deflation Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Why a booklet for lesbians, gays and transgenders? Maybe I should look into this. Would I get some form of tax relief if I get my pen1s lobbed off? Bit extreme, but I'd save money on porn too. (Edited: because the system would not allow the word pen1s, and put it as *****, so I changed the "i" to a "1". Don't blame me if the world's bonkers!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joeschmo Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Why a booklet for lesbians, gays and transgenders? Maybe I should look into this. Would I get some form of tax relief if I get my pen1s lobbed off? Bit extreme, but I'd save money on porn too. (Edited: because the system would not allow the word pen1s, and put it as *****, so I changed the "i" to a "1". Don't blame me if the world's bonkers!) I would not recommend carrying out the surgery yourself..if you are genuinely looking to transition Danny I would suggest that you get counselling to ensure that it is really what you want. Amongst other things, I believe that you will also have to show that you have been living as a woman for six months prior to having the op. Good luck and I hope that you make the right decision for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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