I have always written short, and sometimes not so short, pieces for professional journals but the freedom to control my time has enabled me to radically change the nature of what I write. It has also allowed me to consider changing the whole format of my writing and start thinking in terms of publishing books.
I have no particular interest in publishing just another set of technical books on tax. There are plenty of those, many are excellent and it is a crowded market. My aim is rather to offer books which offer a broader, clearer perspective and appeal and which attempt to translate complexity into something which can be of practical use to taxpayers. For instance, in my experience taxpayers regularly struggle to grasp the principles of capital taxes planning, particularly inheritance tax planning. It is understandable. Many taxpayers would really benefit from experiencing a few of those ‘ah ha’ moments of insight where they finally ‘get it’ and which will transform the way they think and act. I will be publishing two or three books in 2017 which aim to provide that insight in the area of inheritance tax planning. Although they will be designed for anyone to read, I guess the same books can also serve as a quick introduction for professionals whose field of practical expertise lies elsewhere and for those who require a refresher and feel ‘the need for speed’.
On a separate but parallel level, I am driven to write books which are more reflective of the nature of tax and the professions and the issues they are and will be forced to grapple with. How things fit into the real world.
My first book of this genre will be published on Amazon in early December, ‘The Intriguing Truth about 5th April.’ The real story of how 5th April became the end of our tax year.
Understanding why changes were made to our calendar and how those changes were implemented astonishingly requires a grasp of 2,500 years of history and its twists and turns. Discovering that history is revealing. For instance, the Romans gave us the month of April and yet in the 1st century AD, Nero proclaimed that April be known as Neroneus. Had this catchy re-naming survived Nero’s death, we might now have to endure preparing self-assessment tax returns for a year ended 5th Neroneus. An uncomfortable prospect for many a modern reader … but arguably an appropriate one? However entertaining the twists and turns, it is understanding the deeper forces that made this date of 5th April an inevitability which is fascinating. It is not the story or the ending you may be expecting!
Writing is really rewarding work and a perfect complement to tax planning. Everyone should have a go.
Where you are going wrong with inheritance tax planning – https://bit.ly/2oDgG28
