View Full Version : Self-assessment: Warning for Mac users
I thought I would do my civic duty to fellow AoS members planning to do their tax return online with a Mac that I have just been given an error message saying that Macs and certain browsers are not supported by the site.
What am I supposed to do? Buy a PC just to do a tax return - a return I am compelled by law to complete? I wonder if this is legal. When exactly did the government become an exclusive Micros**t house FFS?!!!!:steam:
Anyway, rant over, but you have been warned. So those affected had better run down to the ever-so-secure local internet cafe to divulge their personal financial details to whoever might be looking or keystroke logging!
Peter
It does seem a bit remiss of them, doesn't it? Worth a wee rant down the phone at the Revenue IMO...
It does seem a bit remiss of them, doesn't it? Worth a wee rant down the phone at the Revenue IMO...
Dave
That's what I thought except, on looking, its an 0300 line, which means I pay for the privilege! I'm in a three way marginal, so perhaps I'll moan to my MP...
Peter
Oldpinkman
23-01-2014, 15:58
Dave
That's what I thought except, on looking, its an 0300 line, which means I pay for the privilege! I'm in a three way marginal, so perhaps I'll moan to my MP...
Peter
You'd never get through - you need an agent priority line. Doesn't sound right to me. "Their software" (which is slow, horrible, stupid and gets the final tax payable wrong if you make payments on account) is just a portal in theory accessible by any web browser. Try a different browser
Dave
That's what I thought except, on looking, its an 0300 line, which means I pay for the privilege! I'm in a three way marginal, so perhaps I'll moan to my MP...
Peter
Worth asking whether the purchase of a PC to fill in your tax return is tax deductable... :D
You'd never get through - you need an agent priority line. Doesn't sound right to me. "Their software" (which is slow, horrible, stupid and gets the final tax payable wrong if you make payments on account) is just a portal in theory accessible by any web browser. Try a different browser
Richard
Thanks - I will do. But it did explicitly say it did not support Apple.
P
Oldpinkman
23-01-2014, 16:09
Richard
Thanks - I will do. But it did explicitly say it did not support Apple.
P
Maybe? I am the last person to know in a way, because I don't use their shite systems and have software that files everything. I have known random problems with IE particularly - printing pdf's if I recall, but generally they keep them good for all browsers. Maybe try an older version of the browser if you can access it. If you're stuck I can probably help
Pete, try installing Chrome if you don't have it, you never know ;)
Maybe? I am the last person to know in a way, because I don't use their shite systems and have software that files everything. I have known random problems with IE particularly - printing pdf's if I recall, but generally they keep them good for all browsers. Maybe try an older version of the browser if you can access it. If you're stuck I can probably help
Richard
Thank you - very kind. I think I'll eat crow and borrow my son's laptop or go into my music server. IIRC it has XP installed on it and I can do it from there once I have hooked up the KVM stuff.
I have done all the work on paper - just need to transcribe it. The good news is that the buggers owe me money - enough to get some more kit :lol:.
Best
P
Pete, try installing Chrome if you don't have it, you never know ;)
Dave
Wilco - I use Safari and Opera: the trouble is a Macbook Air soon clogs up with all this software but I can always uninstall it afterwards.
P
Oldpinkman
23-01-2014, 17:04
Richard
Thank you - very kind. I think I'll eat crow and borrow my son's laptop or go into my music server. IIRC it has XP installed on it and I can do it from there once I have hooked up the KVM stuff.
I have done all the work on paper - just need to transcribe it. The good news is that the buggers owe me money - enough to get some more kit :lol:.
Best
P
No worries. Congratulations. Of course, as I point out to my clients at this time of year, you don't have to leave it till the last f**** minute - you can file from 7th April. If you are due a refund, there is some incentive to do that. i can't believe how many I've had leave it till January this year. Although I say that every year. This time I mean it - my practice is now as big as I want to be. Next January there is a 100% surcharge on books arriving in January :steam:
No worries. Congratulations. Of course, as I point out to my clients at this time of year, you don't have to leave it till the last f**** minute - you can file from 7th April. If you are due a refund, there is some incentive to do that. i can't believe how many I've had leave it till January this year. Although I say that every year. This time I mean it - my practice is now as big as I want to be. Next January there is a 100% surcharge on books arriving in January :steam:
I know, and I'll aim to do better this year, but I hate doing it so much...:brickwall:
Anyhoo, my return has been submitted now. Amazing what uses you can put a clapped out old Ripnas to!:lol:
P
if you enable the developer menu in Safari via preferences|extended, you can change the user agent presented to the webserver to say IE 9. This gets rid of any talking back from the server and lets you use the site. Does not get rid of any real incompatibilities of the programming though …
… but mostly there are no major issues.
;-)
Michael
Michael
Useful! Thanks.
P
Oldpinkman
24-01-2014, 16:08
There is definite light at the end of the tunnel. Boy this year has been a white knuckle ride, but I reckon I'm gonna get home now. Can take the toys over to Sovereign tomorrow now :cool:
I thought I would do my civic duty to fellow AoS members planning to do their tax return online with a Mac that I have just been given an error message saying that Macs and certain browsers are not supported by the site.
What am I supposed to do? Buy a PC just to do a tax return - a return I am compelled by law to complete? I wonder if this is legal. When exactly did the government become an exclusive Micros**t house FFS?!!!!:steam:
Anyway, rant over, but you have been warned. So those affected had better run down to the ever-so-secure local internet cafe to divulge their personal financial details to whoever might be looking or keystroke logging!
Peter
b*stards!!!!
Odd. I just filed and submitted mine on my mac using safari. No trouble at all. Same last year too.
Odd. I just filed and submitted mine on my mac using safari. No trouble at all. Same last year too.
Lee,
Yes, I did it last year with no problem but this year I got the dreaded incompatibility warning.
I upgraded to Mavericks - I wonder if that explains it, but neither Safari nor Opera would work for me.
Ho hum.
P
Lee,
Yes, I did it last year with no problem but this year I got the dreaded incompatibility warning.
I upgraded to Mavericks - I wonder if that explains it, but neither Safari nor Opera would work for me.
Ho hum.
P
Peter,
Having mavericks means you have a different version of safari than I do. That may be an issue but did the warning pop up from the HMRC site or did safari tell you it was incompatible with the site?
This is very frustrating I must say.
Edit: computer requirements http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/menus/help-technical.htm (safari 5 listed as a minimum)
Lee
It was HMRC not Safari.
Best
P
Oldpinkman
31-01-2014, 18:11
Last tax return filed (yes you guessed correctly)
First bottle of champagne opened. Could be a long night :partytime::cocktail::champagne::champagne::champa gne::champagne::cheers::drunk:
Last tax return filed (yes you guessed correctly)
First bottle of champagne opened. Could be a long night :partytime::cocktail::champagne::champagne::champa gne::champagne::cheers::drunk:
Richard,
Hours early! Put your feet up and watch the site crash in a couple of hours' time...:popcorn: It's running at 45,000 forms an hour.
P
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