In recent weeks you will have read in the press and media about the difficulties faced by “number professionals” (accountants and tax consultants). For the first time, there was even talk of strike action, something our profession has never considered since its creation.
Because this is not the vocation of the thousands of members of our profession who devote their time, their energy, and for some of them who even sacrifice part of their health (burnout is a reality in our profession), in this mission of general interest which is to tirelessly help their clients, whether they are business managers, liberal professions or other citizens, by fulfilling their legal obligations for them, by explaining to them every day the tax rules that have become today now almost illegible, carrying out multiple tasks with high added value for companies, playing the role of company doctor, in short supporting them, sometimes for several decades, without always having the consideration to which they are nevertheless entitled.
A profound deterioration in relations with the tax authorities
In recent years, however, the profession has been confronted with a profound deterioration in relations with the administration (regular breakdowns and unavailability of FPS Finance platforms, very penalizing tax laws, violation of procedural rules, development of a process of dehumanization, lack of consideration or professionalism of certain civil servants).
Furthermore, more and more work is being asked of accountants to communicate documents or information that the tax administration already has, which creates an unnecessary workload. The profession is no longer attractive to our young people as a result.
We would like to highlight the following problems in particular:
- Setting up a zero tolerance policy regarding the filing of tax returns, even in cases of good faith, with disproportionate financial consequences for taxpayers.
- Considerable strengthening of investigative powers of the administration (extension of tax deadlines, transformation of the notion of index of fraud into a simple presumption of fraud, gradual disappearance of the complaints procedure whose services no longer constitute anything more than a chamber for ratifying taxes, even arbitrary, systematic sending of backups and computer accounts under penalty of sanctions or intimidation.
- Wild multiplication of tax increases such that they can jeopardize the survival of the company or the taxpayer and engage the liability of the accounting professional.
- End of all possibility of communication with the administration (removal of e-mail addresses from mail, no access possible to the telephone lines of the FPS Finance services (in particular to understand tax legislation or circulars produced by the administration), end of dialogue between a controller and the taxpayer or his or her advisor during tax audits, inefficiency of FPS Finances IT applications).
- Gradual loss of independence of the Advance Rulings Service in relation to the central administration, a service which is nevertheless essential to legal security.
- Non-reaction of the Minister to the multiple legitimate demands and requests expressed by the Sector (apart from a few deadlines obtained), the minister or his representatives having never been present during the conferences or congresses organized by our institute.
An emergency: restoring hope
It is more than time and urgent to restore hope to thousands of accountants and tax consultants currently in great difficulty and who are witnessing with concern an evolution in their profession. We must also establish a new Taxpayer Charter.
To this end, it is vital to reestablish trust and a direct link with the different levels of administration (starting with its minister) and to create privileged access for accounting professionals. We need to find a peaceful climate, with operational tools for everyone.
We plead for a strengthening of dialogue, a simplification of administrative tasks, more transparency and respect, a rebalancing between the powers of the administration and the rights of taxpayers, an improvement of the tools and platforms created by the tax administration , legal security restored.
As part of the constitution of the future government, we would be very obliged to take into account our considerations which we believe to be legitimate (and which, ultimately, also benefit all taxpayers and entrepreneurs in this country).
We can therefore only hope, initially, for the appointment of a Minister of Finance who listens to our profession and is aware of our economic and essential role. The future of our economy and the preservation of our rule of law, which has been weakened in recent years, is at stake.
We would be infinitely grateful to you and ask you to accept, Ladies and Gentlemen, the assurance of our best feelings.
Pierre-François Coppens
Certified Tax Advisor, President of the ADFPC
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