Taxing

According to the BBC, Tax through PAYE has been (in some cases) utterly stuffed for the last couple of years.

In the story, about £2bn has been underpaid – but about £1.8bn has been overpaid. Now to me, that’s a case of “Oh sod it, it kind of balances”. But no, in a fit of efficiency (or at least Inland Revenue’s version of efficiency – which isn’t efficient at all) they’re going to send out six million letters telling people that they’ve over- or under-paid, and the differences will be refunded or paid back in the new tax code.

So. Six million letters. Even in second-class post, that’s a minimum of 32p per letter. Which makes a cost of £1,920,000.  Doing the letters first class would be a cost of £2,460,000.

Let’s look at this sensibly.

We’ve underpaid £2bn in tax.

We’ve overpaid £1.8bn.

Which leaves £0.2bn to pay.

And Inland Revenue are going to spend £2 million to get back that £0.2 billion.

Is it just me that sees the idiocy in this? Talk about throwing good money after bad.

And actually, why the flying fuck should the people who have underpaid – through no fault of their own –  be penalised by having to pay extra this year for a mistake made by Inland Revenue itself ?!?