Clear communication = brilliant content

It is refreshing to have the opportunity to write about Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs in a positive vein.

The folk who work there do not make the rules, any more than those who work within HM Treasury. The people whom we elect do that – yet another argument against the simple, sneering Russell Brand school of avoiding one’s civic duty to vote.

Many of us like to think that we know how our taxes are spent. Actually most of us don’t – or didn’t until recently.

HMRC has taken to sending out annual statements to all taxpayers to highlight where the money goes. It’s a brilliant piece of communication that deserves to be applauded.

The message completely contradicts popular thinking as espoused by many, er, popular pundits and does so simply, clearly and without any superfluous commentary.

As a piece of clear communication and useful content it sits somewhere close to the top of the pile for its straightforward excellence.

Wouldn’t it be great if only Google, Facebook, Amazon and other Silicon Valley giants were so honest about tax?