Since I left school 30 years ago I have never paid a penny in income tax. I have always been self employed?

however I have never declared myself as such. I have never as much as had a letter in all these years from the inland revenue. I dont even think they know I exist. Anyway, My question is how many other people reading this are in the same fortunate position as myself never having had to pay income tax or nat insurance during there working life. I know there will be many out there who think this is a disgrace but if truth be known they would do exactly the same thing if they could get away with it. If they say they would not do it then they are liars and they know it.
Additional Details
In answer to your questions No I dont use the NHS I go private and i will start paying income tax maybe a year or two before i am due to retire so I will be entitled to the state pension. I have thought that one out long ago. all I need to tell them is i have been working abroad as my friend has his own company in The phillippines and he will back me up on that one. I have got everything all worked out.

i'd do it, fair play. We pay enough council tax, road tax, value added tax, insurance tax, loan tax, speeding tax, parking tax etc etc
I would reccomend you tell them you've just become self employed though and do a tax return next year.
If you do it every year now you may get away with it and in 6 years time you can relax because they won't be able to look back past then.
If you get found out and tax people send you a monster bill (which they will) you will be liable with no proof to dispute their claim unless you have correct accounts.
The bills they send out really are something out of fantasy so do something before they bend you over roughly

EDIT: Fengirl2, have you ever been abroad?
When did you ever get a stamp in your passport?
And i'd be quiet about being ex tax inspector, thats like being ex burglar, lowlife in terms of us self employed.
Make up the rules as you go along and make up tax bills that any human would see is a total fantasy.
Hope you have a real job now.

So you have stamps in your Passport to show you leaving the UK and returning, overseas bank accounts, correspondence addressed to you abroad? You are not included on any Voters Lists, Council Tax records, you don't own your house, or rent it, have any bank accounts, you don't have a phone, or gas or electricity? You are indeed fortunate.
You need 40 years contributions in order to qualify for a full State pension - a couple of years is not going to buy you anything.
EDIT: I'm not at all worried, I got out of investigating arrogant people like you years ago!

Well it seems that you won't be getting a pension, so you will have a problem. Your pension is related to the National Insurance contribution which is relevant to the amount of money you earn and declared

You pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) to build up your entitlement to certain social security benefits, including the State Pension. The type and level of NIC you pay depends on how much you earn and whether you're employed or self employed. You stop paying NICs when you reach State Pension age.
Who pays National Insurance?
You pay NICs if you are an employee or self-employed and you are aged 16 and over, providing your earnings are more than a certain level. You stop paying NICs at State Retirement age. This is currently 65 for men and 60 for women but will gradually increase to 65 for women over the period 2010 to 2020.
Your National Insurance number
Your National Insurance number (NI number) is your own personal account number. The number ensures that the National Insurance contributions and the tax you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system.

National Insurance Rates
The following amounts apply for the 2007-2008 tax year:
If you're employed
if you earn above Â£100 a week (the 'earnings threshold') and up to Â£670 per week you pay 11 per cent of this amount as 'Class 1' NICs
you also pay one per cent of earnings above Â£670 a week as Class 1 NICs
you will pay a lower amount as an employee if you are a member of your employer's contracted out pension scheme

If you're self-employed
you pay 'Class 2' NICs at a flat rate weekly amount of Â£2.20
you also pay 'Class 4' NICs as a percentage of your taxable profits - you pay eight per cent on annual taxable profits between Â£5,225 and Â£34,840 and one per cent on any taxable profit over that amount
if your earnings in the 2007-2008 tax year are expected to be less than Â£4,635 then you may be entitled to the Small Earnings Exception (SEE), meaning you don't have to pay any Class 2 NICs

Benefits that depend on NIC contributions
Your entitlement to the following benefits and/or the amount you can get will depend on your (or in some cases your spouse or civil partner's) NIC contributions:

Contribution based Jobseeker's Allowance (Class 1 NICs only)
Incapacity Benefit (if you can't work for long periods due to illness or injury)
State Pension
additional State Pension (Class 1 NICs only)
Widowed Parents' Allowance
Bereavement Allowance
Bereavement Payment

Are you also aware
State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can claim your State Pension. At present the age at which men and women can claim their State Pension is different. Men can get their State Pension from 65 but, until 6 April 2010, women can get theirs at 60.

State Pension age for women will increase to 65 so that the State Pension age will be the same for both men and women by 2020. This change will be phased in from 2010.

The Pensions Act 2007 provides for the State Pension age for both men and women to rise from 65 to 68 in stages between 2024 and 2046.
Men reaching State Pension age before 2010 will need 44 qualifying years of work for women it is 39 years however:
both men and women reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2010 will need 30 years qualifying years for a full basic State Pension. If you do not have the full 30 years of paid or credited contributions to get a full State Pension, each year you do have will give you one thirtieth of the full rate Basic State Pension

So very sorry mate you won't be getting much pension will you?

It won't work out as you want; take heed of the last two answers! You have a lot of explaining to do, if, or when you claim a pension.

It is not a fortunate position - you are allowing those of us that do pay income tax or national insurance to fund everything!

Do you use your doctor? Have you used the NHS? That is what taxpayers money goes on, as well as all the **** things.

Obviously no-one likes paying tax, but to have the facilities we have, it is worth it.

Edit - You won't get a lot of pension - it is linked to National Insurance contributions. Here's to a long old age eh??

A year ago you said you had a mortgage and felt superior to council tenants etc. so I don't actually believe your statements.
However, if it's true, you will discover that life has a few surprises in store for you.
Schadenfreude is a great feeling.

It is a disgrace and they will probably catch you when you least expect it...and no I wouldn't. Taxes pay for many of the things we take for grantedd..like roads and schools...our military that keep us safe...our reserve military that helps with national crisis...for shame.

you better have a good pension lined up.

Not sure if you are fortunate or unfortunate. I would class you as part of the grey/black economy, which always exists in any society. The downside is that should you ever wish to claim your "old age pension", you will be denied it, as you have not contributed through your national insurance as a self employed person. The somewhat worse side is, should you try to claim it, you open the flood gates to having legal charges brought against you, as it is offence not to contribute. The further downside is that, if you have not set aside an income for your older age, then you will have to keep working until the day you die to survive. It seems there will be some payment for the piper at some stage.

I'd rather pay my way. Heres hoping they do catch up with you and you get a huge bill.

well i hope they catch you and you end up in severe financial debt. I hate hate hate the fact that the taxes I pay go to you; you must use the NHS that I pay for you ******* ogre

You are in for a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge bill when they catch up with you. Also you have no right to be treated when you're sick, have your house put out when its on fire or ask the Police for anything, No right to send your kids to school or expect the military to defend you as you have never contributed to any of these services. On the plus side you have never given an immigrant or a terminally useless / jobless person a penny, never paid for their weed and cheap cider so for that you are to be commended.
Personally tho I would prefer to pay my way and be above board every step of my working life. At least that way I know everything is in order and I can go about my business without looking over my shoulder and dreading the postman visiting in case he has something from the Inland Revenue for me

lol, they know you're there, trust me. A friends husband is an inspector. You're just not a priority. They may trot you out when they need to make an example of someone but for now be thankful there have always been bigger fish.

I don't like your last sentence, to call people liars without knowing facts.
As for your not paying tax for 30 years you are a disgrace to the country and will probably get a hefty prison sentence for your dishonesty.
Would you rather go to prison or pay up like everyone does?

You're totally right. I wouldnt pay if i could get away with it. But they know i exist and im not self employed, godammit!!

As for people who want to say its not fair etc. just think about it. Because this man isnt paying tax, it doesnt make a difference. Our taxes wont go down will they?

All the best to you, i say.

Hi mate, good for you! I have been self employed for the last few years and dont pay as much tax but i'm not in your league yet! Everyone knows that tax only ever gets spent on those that DONT PAY tax ie immigrants and the unemployed.

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