§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo 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.