In the first case in recorded history, a builder has been commended for charging VAT on a transaction.
Local man Dave Wall insists this is the proper way of going about business, and claims to have always charged VAT to his customers, insisting that all his subcontractors also charge VAT. Furthermore, Dave insists all transactions are made electronically or using cheques, and has even invited HMRC to visit his customers and inspect his accounts on several occasions.
HMRC has responded that this is all very well, but this sends the wrong kind of message to their employees, who are currently concerned for their careers as Government cuts are beginning to bite. They would rather Dave and his colleagues kept to the traditional "cash" system, so the HMRC would have something to do.
"So what if we could save £11 bn per year in tax fraud, this is about jobs, not money" stated Rich Elgood, a senior tax officer who didn't want to be named, "I hope the MPs don't hear about this, they'd have to pay more when having their extensions built"