When Dave Hartnett HMRC’s Permanent Secretary for Tax told the BBC’s Paul Lewis that he was not sure that he saw a need to apologise he was responding to an invitation to ‘apologise to the six million people whose tax you got wrong’. The questioner’s assumption was inaccurate and most of the six million people will receive repayments.
HMRC has pointed out that over and underpayments will always be a part of the PAYE system. The present difficulties have been exacerbated by delays in performing the annual reconcilations that are an essential feature of the system.
Hartnett said in a statement issued hours after the interview was broadcast: ‘I apologise if my remarks came across as insensitive. I am working flat out with my colleagues to ensure everyone's tax is correct and the new computer system will help us do this. It was this new...
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