Top tax man 'not sorry'

The country's top tax official said he had no need to apologise to 1.4 million people facing demands for extra money - insisting it was not an "extraordinary" situation and denying any errors by HM Revenue & Customs.

Dave Hartnett, the HMRC Permanent Secretary responsible for tax, also defended asking those who owed more than 2000 to pay it back more quickly - arguing that they were likely to be the highest earners.

Asked if he would say sorry to those facing unexpected bills, Mr Hartnett told a BBC Radio programme: "Every country that I know of that has deduction of tax from wages and salaries has to do a reconciliation at the end of each year and we're doing one."