>>>>>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23352230
>>>>>
>>>>>They wouldn't have needed to apologise to me :-}
>>>>
>>>>yeah - until you're trying to explain it to the IRS because now they're auditing you...ha
>>>
>>>'Salright - I'd happily pay the tax ......
>>
>>...riiight but they put the balance back to zero. The IRS might still think he actually had the money at one point. Believe me the IRS does stupid crap all the time. I'm 47 and have been audited every year since I got my first job at age 14. Reason why? Because I have a twin sister named Victoria. Our SS numbers are one digit apart and of course same birthday - so every damn year they think we are one person trying to cheat. You'd think after 33 years of this they'd get a clue. Like I said - stupid.
>
>Sounds pretty idiotic. I've only had to deal with them occasionally but can't remember any problems. In the UK I've NEVER been audited - psychologically it probably works - if I was ever tempted to pull a fast one I'm sure that's when I'd get a spot audit :-{

During my time in the UK I was told that you don't get much opportunity to cheat on taxes. They take their money up front. Was that accurate?

What was funny was that Inland Revenue was the floor below us in Manchester while half our group was actively engaged in American tax evasion. (Not including me; I have never considered it worth the risk).