Meet our volunteers: Lesley Neumann.
TaxAid volunteer Lesley Neumann tells us about her career, family life and what it’s like volunteering at TaxAid.
Dyslexia and debt: Helping Emma with Self Assessment.
Emma has dyslexia and finds using online services difficult. After her son’s father died, she became a single mother. She had to sell the family home. Her and her son moved into a one-bedroom flat. A couple of years later she became self-employed, carrying out work such as gardening, cleaning and childcare.
While Daniel raised his children, his tax debt grew alongside them.
Imagine you’re a stay-at-home dad, looking after two children. Your only income is occasional low-paid gigs as a musician.
Then a tax bill arrives. For £16,000.
Anil’s story: Mental health, tax and getting ready for a new start.
Anyone can lose their job. And anyone can experience mental health issues. For Anil, they both happened. In quick succession. Then a tax bill arrived.
Dealing with trauma and tax issues – and finding a lifeline at TaxAid.
In 2022, during the covid pandemic, Angela’s father died. In the same year, she went through a divorce and moved out on her own. Since then, she experiences depressive episodes. In 2024, she helped her sister recover from a stroke.
Helping Susan resolve years of tax stress
For years, Susan tried relentlessly to resolve a tax problem on her own. Each attempt left her more stressed and uncertain, as she felt she was only making things worse.
Help with overpaying tax: Tess’s story
Despite not owning a computer, and struggling to fully understand her tax return forms, Tess diligently prepared her own tax returns for several years.
A £1,300 bill – on earnings of £902
Paul was charged £1,300 in late filing penalties – on earnings of £902.77. He had no spare money to cover this tax bill and no idea what to do next.
Cancelling debt, building confidence
In early 2023, Katy, a dedicated care worker from Southwark, found herself facing a financial crisis. With no savings and no clear way forward, Katy was overwhelmed and deeply anxious.
Tax and moving homes
Jeremiah was 88 years old. His vulnerabilities in addition to his age, meant he had had difficulty understanding his tax position and what he needed to do to resolve it.
