We are used to government bureaucracy taking a long time. Need a visa? Sure, that’ll be 4 weeks. Want to get a stamp on this paper? Sure, that’ll be 15 working days. You have spent 8½ years here but you can’t have your rights until it’s 8¾ years.

And yet: you’re 2 weeks late with your taxes, we’re charging you late fees. Notify us of the receipt of this message within 5 working days. And it will take us 15 days to process your late payment.

It doesn’t have to be like that. With government, and elsewhere.