HC Deb 13 November 1980 vol 992 cc436-7W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-employed people, expressed as a percentage of the whole, submitted tax returns in the year 1978–79; and how many employed people, expressed as a percentage of the whole, submitted tax returns in the year 1978–79.

Mr. Peter Rees

The Inland Revenue does not keep records of the numbers of tax returns submitted either by self-employed or employed people. Most self-employed taxpayers will be required to make a return each year. Of employed people—including pensioners—approximately 35 per cent. are issued with a return at the beginning of each tax year; in addition, an unrecorded number of employed people—including pensioners—are issued with a return following a major change in their personal circumstances.