§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what help is available for(a) people and (b) people over the age of 75 who experience difficulties in completing their tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [57172]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThere are five main ways in which the Inland Revenue provides help for people who experience difficulties in completing their Tax Returns.
- 1. The Tax Return Guide, issued to tax advisers annually, or with the Tax Return to people who do not have a tax adviser.
- 2. The national Self Assessment Telephone Helpline 0845 9000 444 is open seven days a week. This line has a MINICOM facility.
- 3. The Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk has a specific area for Self Assessment and provides on-line help and guidance notes.
- 4. People can telephone any tax office or contact centre for information.
109W - 5. People can visit any Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres (IREC) across the UK—most of these are open from 8.30am to 5pm weekdays.
How to get this help is shown on the front page of each Tax Return and help is available when people need it and not just during office hours. While we do not have help aimed specifically at people aged over 75, local offices will arrange home visits, on request, to help anyone complete their tax return who has difficulty going to a tax office, such as pensioners, the elderly, the sick or disabled.
We also have a range of leaflets that are available to customers on request form the IRECs and we provide separate specialist telephone Helplines for subjects such as Disabled Persons Tax Credit or Trusts.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to simplify(a) the tax system and (b) tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [57171]
§ Dawn PrimaroloBudget 2002 contained a number of measures to simplify tax including measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business and implementing the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services.