Builders make most mistakes on tax returns

Mistakes on tax returns are most likely to be made by builders, according to a survey of accountants by Bloomsbury Professional.

Taxi drivers (11%) were ranked second, while personal service contractors, such as IT consultants came third on 9%. However, 33% of builders, carpenters and plasterers were seen as by far the most incompetent tax returning trades.

The handy-man professions were seen as especially prone to errors due to their tendency to be paid in cash and have traditionally been considered problematic. In the past HMRC has even sent letters to homeowners who have had recent building work completed, in an attempt to gain a clearer picture of the business dealings of the cash-in-hand workmen.

Of the accountants polled, 4.3% even considered their fellow practitioners as highly likely to commit errors on the forms, putting accountants in the same bracket as buy-to-let investors and restaurateurs.