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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