Self-assessment Returns (Hansard, 12 November 1998)

§ Dr. Vis
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the accuracy rate of the self-assessment returns generated by computer programs; and what steps he has taken to identify design faults in specific programs. [58686]

§ Dawn Primarolo
Self Assessment paper returns are processed in the same way whether the form is computer generated or Revenue issued. The Inland Revenue does not record whether a rejected paper return was computer generated.
Around 10 per cent. of electronically lodged returns were initially rejected for the 1996–97 tax year. The reason for rejection would be notified to the taxpayer or their agent. Problems can arise because of the inaccurate entry of data, faults in the software, or problems with the Inland Revenue's own system. Where there is a recurrent problem it is investigated; if it relates to the software the provider is notified.

§ Dr. Vis
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people complete their self-assessment returns using a computer program(a) in total and (b) broken down by the computer program used. [58685]

§ Dawn Primarolo
For the 1996–97 tax year the number of people completing their self-assessment tax returns using a computer programme was almost 505,000.
Just under 28,000 of these used the Inland Revenue's Electronic Version of the Return (EVR) with just over 477,000 using commercial packages.
The Inland Revenue does not hold figures for the different commercial products used to produce the returns.
301W

§ Dr. Vis
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Inland Revenue's computer program for self-assessment returns for the next accounting year relative to those available from the private sector. [58687]

§ Dawn Primarolo
The Inland Revenue's Electronic Version of the Return (EVR) is intended to assist a taxpayer whose main income stems from employment, pensions or investments to produce a tax return and tax calculation printout. EVR is distributed free of charge to any taxpayer and is not a competitor for commercial packages, many of which are intended to assist in the completion of tax returns; therefore no direct comparison has been made.