HC Deb 23 November 1987 vol 123 c68W
Mr. Gordon Brown

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons why fewer adults are submitting Inland Revenue tax returns; and if he will publish figures for each year since 1979.

Mr. Norman Lamont

[holding answer 19 November 1987]: So far as employed taxpayers are concerned, fewer people are now required to submit tax returns than previously. Figures of returns issued at the commencement of each tax year and received back within the following six months are set out below:

Year Returns issued (000s) Returns received (000s) Receipt as per cent. of issue
1979 8,105 5,945 73
1980 7,362 5,313 72
1981 6,499 4,469 69
1982 6,078 4,236 70
1983 5,813 4,364 75
1984 5,453 4,084 75
1985 5,255 3,941 75
1986 4,693 3,299 70
1987 4,672 3,199 68

No comparable figures are available for returns issued to the self-employed.