Why is useless HMRC getting a 13 per cent pay rise while brilliant NHS get only one per cent?
It was revealed over the weekend that staff at HM Revenue and Customs are to receive a 13 per cent pay rise. We already know NHS staff will get only one per cent.
Some commentators have insisted that we should not begrudge tax inspectors their pay rise but I am not one of them, because I have recent experience of their work.
I file my tax returns online, you see.
When I did it this year, the automatic system demanded that I pay half the amount again, as a down-payment on next year’s taxes – but I declined on the basis that the Covid crisis has hit my income to the point where I’m unlikely to hit the threshold for paying income tax at all.
The response was that this would be considered and I would be contacted later.
I had that contact last week. After I fished it out of my email system’s spam folder, it instructed me to visit the HMRC element of the gov.uk website.
This meant I had to provide a numerical code and a password, which I did.
Then I was told a further six-digit passcode had been transmitted to my mobile phone, and I had to look it up and input that as well.
Then I was told I would be asked further questions on two of three subjects (the choice being mine). One of them was a non-starter because it didn’t apply to me, and the first of the other two required me to provide “0” as an answer, which HMRC’s website doesn’t allow.
So I could not retrieve my message. I’ve informed HMRC and am awaiting its response. This may take some time.
All I want to do is pay my taxes and the system is holding me up. For this, HMRC staff will receive a 13 per cent pay increase over the next three years.
If I go to my local doctor with a health problem, I can be assured of instant attention. If the problem turns out to be serious, that attention may involve being ambulanced to hospital for the immediate attention of specialists in their field. For this, NHS staff will receive only a one per cent pay increase.
You can appreciate my reasons for begrudging HMRC staff their increase, I hope.
Source: 13% pay rise for HMRC changes debate on NHS dispute, Maajid Nawaz insists – LBC
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I believe the reason they have had a large pay increase is that firstly it was negotiated by the unions on the basis they haven’t had a single pay rise in ten years. My girlfriend who works in public service can vouch for this. Also this is another example of the Tories divide and conquer.
Divide and conquer? Maybe. But I think the fact that HMRC is so difficult to handle mean people are already opposed to the taxman/woman getting a pay rise. My article points out that the security questions on the website make it impossible to use. Do you honestly think the people responsible for that should get a pay rise?
Where is the evidence that HMRC arre getting a pay rise of 13%. I can’t find it anywhere.
Also, I appreciate the difficulties that were experienced inaccessing HMRC but HMRC staff have been heavily cut over the last 10 years. Nevertheless the in=house team managed to implement the furlough scheme in record time and minimal cost. The only recognition they are likely to get is 1%, except possibly for the very lowest paid.
You see the link at the end of the article, marked “source”? Click on that.
So because you had trouble logging into a website, you want to deprive thousands of people from a pay rise that they havent had in over 10 years?? Are you seriously naive enough to think the “people responsible” for the website are the same people receiving the rise? Have a word with yourself.
All public sectors have been deprived of the money they deserve, the lack of an NHS raise is nothing to do with this.
Also, your taxes are hardly a life or death matter, the world and system does not revolve around you.
Perhaps you should have a word with yourself.
I judge a service according to performance. What else do you do?
HMRC performs very poorly. NHS performs very well. In a choice between the two, it is clear that NHS deserves the raise more.
Now please stop being silly.
Pr
I thought the gov imposed a pay freeze across the board last Oct???
Rules for them and rules for us