HC Deb 10 December 1980 vol 995 cc366-7W
Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion a the total body of income tax payers delivered a full return of income in each of the tax years 1974–75 to 1979–80.

Mr. Peter Rees

The Inland Revenue does not keep records of the total numbers of income tax returns received in each tax year. Of the total body of income tax payers who may be required to deliver a full return of income once a year, it is estimated that the following proportions were issued with returns requiring a declaration of income for the year shown.

Income Tax Year Proportion Issued
%
1974–75 49
1975–76 47
1976–77 47
1977–78 47
1978–79 47
1979–80 44

In addition, there would in each year have been an unrecorded number of returns which were issued to employed tax payers following a major change in their circumstances.