Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

On the wane

01 September 2009 / Allison Plager
Issue: 4221 / Categories: Comment & Analysis
The parliamentary ombudsman’s latest report shows a marked reduction in complaints about the tax department. ALLISON PLAGER takes a look

KEY POINTS

  • HMRC is the second most complained about department.
  • Overpaid tax credits still cause for complaint.
  • Shocking tale of HMRC error.

Even though the number of complaints to the parliamentary and health service ombudsman about HMRC fell by 7.8% in 2008/09 it still was the second most complained about department after the Department for Work and Pensions but excluding health bodies.

Ann Abraham current Ombudsman shows in her latest annual report that 27% of complaints received concerned the tax department.

However far fewer were accepted for investigation i.e. 24 in total compared with 160 in 2007/08 and accounted for only 11% of complaints investigated by the Ombudsman (see HMRC Complaints and Results). The previous year it accounted for 48% of complaints accepted.

While much of the ombudsman’s work...

If you or your firm subscribes to Taxation.co.uk, please click the login box below:

If you are not a subscriber but are a registered user or have a free trial, please enter your details in the following boxes:

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.

Please reach out to customer services at +44 (0) 330 161 1234 or 'customer.services@lexisnexis.co.uk' for further assistance.

back to top icon