Paper trail

IS scrapping the paper annual tax return in favour of digitally updating records automatically, as announced in last week's Budget, really going make things easier for business folk?

Fraser Campbell, partner at accountancy firm Campbell Dallas, is not convinced.

"It sounds like a great idea, to reduce the burden and what not, but there is a lot of suspicion out there," he said at The Herald Budget Briefing.

"If you are self-employed you are going to want somebody to check what the Revenue think you have earned before you actually press the button. So I don't think it is going to streamline things too much."

Moreover, Mr Campbell insisted the current system was not without its merits.

"The amount of errors that come out on a regular, daily and weekly basis from HMRC keeps us all in a job as accountants, so we really can't complain too much about it," he quipped.

Facebook horror

ONE in every seven minutes spent online round the world is spent on Facebook.

This horrifying fact was divulged to the SCDI Forum by IBM Europe vice-president Caroline Taylor, who hoped "we can find something better to do with our time".

Robert Kerr, the veteran Australian economist, had earlier confided to the forum: "Even somebody in his late 60s is on Facebook now. I am trying to work out how to get off it."

Mr Kerr had planned to sub- title his own talk 'an exercise in courage and humility', he said.

"But I wasn't sure how this audience would take to being given an exercise in humility by an Australian."

Looking for beer

WE like the humour employed by the 'A' board artist at Glasgow bar The Raven, who this week drew inspiration from Motown star Lionel Richie to promote its wares.

A hand-drawn sketch of the former Commodore appeared above an artistically altered line from one of his most famous songs. "Hello! Is it beer you looking for?" the sign enquired.

Scandic Bru

NEWS that AG Barr has Scandinavia in its sights has been one of the more interesting Scottish business storylines this week. It left The Bottom Line contemplating just how much a pint of Irn-Bru would cost in the bars of Gothenburg.

Maxwell's challenge

GLASGOW chartered financial planner Allan Maxwell is gearing up for the big challenge ahead.

No, for once it is not the new pensions freedoms on April 6 but 138 miles of cycling

In his annual charity ride he tackles the Etape Loch Ness route on April 26 then the Yorkhill cycle to Garelochhead and back via Loch Lomond on May 16.

The clue is in the latter- it's all for Yorkhill Children's Charity, and the corporate benefits consultant has hiked his target to £1500 (on Virgin Money Giving) having smashed his original ambition to raise £1000.

Moral dilemma

BACK on the imminent demise of the annual tax return, Robert Burns, partner at law firm Burness Paull, suggested it may lead to behaviour that is less than honest.

Mr Burns said the prospect of HMRC pre-populating forms with details such as its projection of an individual's income could prove to be a "moral dilemma", as the reality of that income could differ from the projection.

Speaking at The Herald Budget Briefing, he quipped: "Do you be honest and add the information in, or do you say well if that's what you think...! I know what I would do!"