§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken by the Inland Revenue for repayment of income tax to taxpayers who have overpaid was in the last year for which figures are available. [112928]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Inland Revenue do not keep this information in respect of all cases where an overpayment might arise.
In the year to April 2002, the Inland Revenue offices which specifically deal with claims for repayment of income tax made by individuals (that is, not claims contained within self-assessment tax returns or arising from overpayments of income tax under the PAYE scheme) dealt with 98.8 per cent. of claims within 20 working days. In the same year, other Inland Revenue tax offices also dealt with 82.98 per cent. of all post (which would have included repayment claims) within 15 working days.