What’s the moral of this story of HSBC and HMRC? Steal big

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/10/moral-of-the-story-hsbc-hmrc-steal-big

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Polly Toynbee’s invitation to compare the treatment of benefit claimants to that of tax avoiders and evaders struck home instantly (With penalties so weak, tax evasion is worth the risk, 10 February). The previous day a young woman was seeking help in an advice agency where I work about a letter she had received from HMRC about an “overpayment” of working tax credit and child tax credit. She was accused of not telling HMRC of a change of circumstances two years ago and would have to repay all tax credits from that time. It should be noted that had HMRC been aware of this information (she thought in fact she had told them) it would have changed her benefits very little, if at all, but they have immediately stopped all payments, even those for her child, and threatened her with a penalty for not telling HMRC of the change of circumstances. This penalty can be up to £3,000.

Also bear in mind that the claimant is a young mother who works and is paid the minimum wage and therefore does not earn enough to pay her bills without the government (us) subsidising her. Or rather, subsidising the company she works for, which pays her so little while possibly evading its responsibility to HMRC by positioning itself in Luxembourg or banking with HSBC. It seems these companies are not pursued or threatened in any way, let alone in the way which has caused bewilderment and potential financial catastrophe to a young working woman and her family.Sally CherubiniLondon

• Has it not been apparent since the credit crunch that tax evasion is just the icing on the gingerbread of the financial manipulation of “free trade”? As Del Boy used to say, “only fools and horses work”. Everyone else is on the fiddle.

Polly Toynbee writes: “Are these people who really run the country, buying an election to ensure government by their people, for their people?” I presume this question to be rhetorical. Britain’s problem is that the systemic abuse of trust in financial dealing is the only way left for the City of London make any money. Be honest, if the great and the good could make money ethically, would they behave unethically?

You at the back there, stop sniggering!Martin LondonHenllan, Denbighshire

• This is how it works: swindle the benefit system for a comparatively meagre sum and you could find yourself castigated by the rightwing press and very likely sent to prison. But swindle the British public and the toothless HMRC out of millions (in complicity with your bank manager) and chances are you’ll get away with it, or at worst have to pay a fine, while still retaining your anonymity. Moral of the story? Steal big.Bruce PaleyCastle Morris, Pembrokeshire