HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc80-1W
Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost is to the Exchequer of altering the tax code of a retired individual income taxpayer(a) at the start of the tax year and (b) during the tax year, after the original tax code has been set. [124037]

Dawn Primarolo

This information is not available.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual tax codes of people receiving age-related income tax allowances had to be changed by the Inland Revenue in(a) April 1999, (b) May 1999, (c) April 2000 and (d) May 2000. [124036]

Dawn Primarolo

Some 2 million notices of coding were issued to people aged 65 or more in May 2000 to reflect increases in their income tax allowances. Separate figures for this age group are not available for the other dates requested.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) men over 65, (b) men over 80, (c) women over 60 and (d) women over 80 years completed an Inland Revenue self-assessment tax form for the tax years (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998– 99; and in each case, what proportion of them had a nil liability for income tax and capital gains tax in that year. [124035]

Dawn Primarolo

If a retired pensioner's income was below the level of their personal allowance in the previous tax year then they should fall outside the criteria for issue of a tax return in all but exceptional circumstances.

Mr. Edward Davey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for simplifying the Inland Revenue's administrative rules and practices as they apply to pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [124038]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government are working to ensure that dealing with the Inland Revenue is as simple as possible for taxpayers. That is why last July I announced measures which are taking up to 400,000 people—about half of whom are pensioners—out of self-assessment. The Inland Revenue is committed to supporting pensioners, whether in self-assessment or not, with a high level of customer service.

This Government are spending an extra £6.5 billion on pensioners across the course of this Parliament. We increased the age-related personal allowances for 1999–2000 by up to £200 above inflation, and for 2000–01 maintained them by increasing them by indexation. We have also introduced the 10p starting rate of income tax, extended it to savings and cut the basic rate to 22p.