Letter: Protect us from aggressive tax office

I ticked the wrong box on my self-assessment form for 2008/2009 and, boy, did they come down on me like a ton of bricks just before Christmas 2009.

To a diligent taxpayer like myself the letters are downright insulting and even though I made calls to arrange payment of back-tax due, a letter threatening legal action arrived in the post within days.

Little leeway for payment is given and it was suggested that I get a loan from my bank to pay the arrears or use a credit card. I would suggest their actions are downright immoral and we, the taxpayers, need some kind of code of conduct to protect us from incompetence.

I say that as I was issued with a statement this March showing my tax affairs were sorted out, only to receive another demand for more money within weeks.

The explanation was that I should have known the additional amount was due even although they admitted their statement was wrong.

A code of conduct or customer service agreement is urgently needed and the sweeping powers of HMRC need to be curtailed.

Alastair Hibbert

Katrine Drive

Dunfermline

The Treasury Minister David Gauke has announced that anyone who has underpaid less than 300 in tax to HMR&C will not be pursued for the amount owing. Why?

He will no doubt have some contorted logic for this decision so I would also like him to tell me how I go about claiming a rebate of the average amount underpaid by taxpayers in this category, as it is clearly discriminatory that some citizens should pay less tax than others. This latest public sector fiasco should surprise no-one.

The continued demonstrations of incompetence are a costly blot on this country which once boasted the finest civil service in the world.

Mr Gauke could cause me to be surprised if he released a (hopefully long) list of senior civil servants who have lost their jobs and bloated pensions as as result of this cock-up.

David K Allan

Mainshill

Haddington, East Lothian