A daft idea for the Italian Goverment

How about setting up a system which allows people to make advance IVA (VAT) and tax payments and grant those who do this a reduced rate of tax and/or use the interest generated on such advance payments to cover the some of the lost income resulting from the reduced tax rates?

It’s a mad idea, I know, but it might encourage more Italian businesses to actually pay taxes. And it may help businesses plan cashflow a little better too, I think.

You would need online access to your current tax and IVA position in real time too, as this would help you understand how much you can put aside for future tax/IVA liability. However, with the wonders of technology, setting this up should be a doddle.

A nutty idea? You tell me.

F24 payment woes

I have a tax payment to make, only I cannot make this blasted payment; which can only be made via a home banking system now; because my home banking system is not working properly. This is because just about everyone is trying to make tax payments today, because of today’s deadline.  In case you did not know, the legendary F24 is a tax form which you use to donate money to the government.  This form used to be made of paper, but now it is virtual, and all can only be accessed via computer for normal mortals such as myself.

You would imagine in the 21st century that someone somewhere would have ensured that IT systems are bolstered to deal with such ‘deadline’ loads, wouldn’t you? Well, I would. But this is Italy, and ‘unpredictable’ is the best word to describe the way in which things work.

Yes, I could have made this payment before today, but why should I have? I could also have set up an automatic payment for today, but because I am not convinced that the system will work, on account of the unpredictability of things here, I did not. Bad move, I know.

It is not even possible to go directly to my bank and have them make the payment, which, before some far thinking, not, politico changed the rules, was possible, and useful in the circumstances I now find myself in.

Oh well, you live and you learn, and become frustrated.

I shall have a go at making this payment later, or give up and pay the darned fine.