HC Deb 09 December 1999 vol 340 cc636-7W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the administration costs associated with collecting VAT in each of the last five years. [101906]

Dawn Primarolo

The administrative costs of collecting VAT are shown in the published Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, at Table B, and are described as the "Cost of Collection of VAT". The costs given include running and non running costs and are net of Appropriations in Aid.

The figures for 1994–95 are shown in the Annual Report for the year ending March 1996. 1995–96 and 1996–97 figures are shown in the Annual Report for the year ending March 1997. 1997–98 and 1998–99 figures are shown in the Annual Report for the year ending March 1999.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the administration costs to the Inland Revenue, incurred in assessing eligibility for each(a) income tax and (b) corporation tax (i) relief, (ii) threshold and (iii) allowance in each of the last five years. [101907]

Dawn Primarolo

Breakdowns of the administrative costs are not readily available in the detail requested.

Details of the total costs of administering the Inland Revenue Department can be found on p.53 of the Board of Inland Revenue's Annual Report and the costs of administering each of Income Tax and Corporation Tax, expressed as a ratio of the tax collected can be found in Table 1 (p.33) of the Report.

A copy of the Annual Report can be found in the Library.