Pursued by HMRC

MY FAMILY has been a victim of the child benefit tax farce (mail). HMRC told us that due to changes to child benefit for people on higher incomes, we faced a bill of £2,325, including late penalty fines and interest.

my wife works for the NHs and her earnings are below the threshold for tax. I hadn’t realised my company car pushed me over the threshold.

I have always been payed and relied on my company to work out tax on my behalf, but HMRC told me that there was ‘no excuse for not paying my taxes’.

I was told that engaging with HMRC would reduce the subsequent charges, but in fact the full penalties were applied.

I was also told it was a criminal offence, which smacks of bullying and scaremongering. one HMRC official told me ‘it’s lucky you haven’t bought any Christmas presents yet’ — meaning I should cancel Christmas for my seven and 11- year- old children because I had a tax bill to pay.

The interest charges were so high I could have got a better deal from a loan shark. I suffered sleepless nights and a lot of anxiety. The experience was nasty and underhand.

The tax is unfair in its bias towards the higher income earner in the family. A husband and wife each earning £49,000 a year are able to claim full child benefit. But my wife and I, with a combined income of less than £70,000, have been penalised and treated like criminals.

If HMRC returned its unfair fine and the high interest rates we were charged, it would certainly improve this year’s Christmas. GRAHAM GRIBBIN, Eynsham, Oxon.