Duchy Originals

Following on from my earlier article about HMRC's security protocols preventing "special people" (MPs, celebs and royals) from filing their tax returns on line (seemingly HMRC do not feel that the IT system is secure enough for such high profile individuals), I have been advised that this special status also appears to apply to anyone who works for the Royal Family.

That would include, for example, the staff employed by the Duchy of Cornwall (98 as per the 2007 accounts).

Add in all other royal staff at the numerous palaces, castles etc and you come up with a reasonably large number of people.

Given that the data will have to be manually input into a special secure area, does this not represent quite a large amount of unnecessary extra work for the already overworked HMRC staff at the "coal face"?

Wouldn't it be better to simply improve the IT systems, and ensure that they offer all citizens the same level of security?

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