Taxman in arrears

IN WHAT is becoming an annual event, HMRC has been found to be not fit for purpose.

How else can you describe an outfit that has incredible powers and yet fails to do its primary job, which is to collect tax?

The figures are stunning: HMRC has failed to collect £42 billion in taxes. It makes the £3.5 billion potentially lost to Covid scams look like chicken feed.

The shortfall includes £15.2billion in uncollected VAT and £6 billion in income tax.

HMRC claims it will be unable to

recover the entire amount, stating it ‘will reach a point of diminishing returns in terms of good use of resources’.

This does not prevent it using the full might of its powers to extract every penny from the ordinary citizen.

DES MORGAN, Swindon, Wilts. HMRC says it will probably not be able to reclaim £3.5 billion lost by error or fraud during Covid and that we should move on.

As a taxpayer who will have to fund the losses, I suggest those responsible must follow this advice and move on. TONY STRAFFORD,

Andover, Hants.

DUE to a lack of funds, the triple lock has been denied and the plan for social care is appalling. However, it seems it is OK not to pursue £3.5 billion in Covid fraud and errors.

JAYNE PINNOCK, Portsmouth, Hants. THE Government shrugs over £3.5 billion given away in error during the lockdown, but still won’t pay the WASPI women.

ALLAN HOLDEN, Clay Cross, Derbys.