HC Deb 27 November 2003 vol 415 cc394-5W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the yield in each year since 1997 was of(a) tax penalties and (b) interest on overdue tax accruing to (i) the Inland Revenue and (ii) Customs and Excise; and what percentage of total tax revenue this represented. [142249]

Dawn Primarolo

The information is as follows:

Inland Revenue

Details of the yield, to include additional tax, interest and penalties resulting from the Inland Revenue's work tackling non-compliance are set out in the Inland Revenue Annual Reports, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. While separate details of late filing penalties are shown, details of the full amount of other penalties included in yield figures shown are not available and could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

Receipts from interest on overdue tax in the accounting years from 1997 are shown in the following table. Figures for 2002 will not be available until the Board publishes its annual report shortly.

Total receipts (£ million) Interest receipts (£ million) Percentage
1997 102,431.5 230.1 0.23
1998 116,237.9 260.1 0.22
1999 125,888.9 321.1 0.26
2000 117,298.2 319.0 0.27
2001 117,842.7 327.2 0.27

Customs and Excise

The table contains information published in the Customs and Excise Annual Report. The report for 2002–03 is yet to be finalised for publication.

All taxes and

duties

(£ million)1

 Fines and

penalties

(£ million)

 Interest

(£ million)2

 Penalties and

interest as

percentage

total yield
1996–97 82,381 82 28 0.13
1997–98 90,136 90 33 0.14
1998–99 94,033 96 37 0.14
1999–2000 97,699 98 49 0.15
2000–01 102,282 103 39 0.14
2001–02 104,874 88 41 0.12
2002–03 108,895 106 36 0.13

1Does not include penalty or interest receipts.

2Interest is charged only on incorrect tax declarations where it represents commercial restitution.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current interest rates(a) charged on overdue tax and (b) paid on money owed to taxpayers are; and how these figures have changed since the latest rise in base rates by the Bank of England. [142250]

Dawn Primarolo

The information is to be found on the Inland Revenue's website at http://newinternet. inrev.gov.uk/rates/interest.htm.