HMRC's £12M Erroneous Overpayments: A Decade of Mismanagement

 

In an astonishing revelation, it has been reported that His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has mistakenly overpaid its own staff by millions of pounds³. This shocking mismanagement of public funds raises serious questions about the financial controls within the organisation.

A Decade of Overpayments

Over the past decade, HMRC employees have pocketed a staggering £12.6 million in erroneous overpayments. In the last year alone, some 250 employees were mistakenly overpaid by more than £1,000. These figures, obtained by The Telegraph, show a total of £12.3 million has been paid back by staff, leaving a £300,000 shortfall.

The Impact on Public Trust

The news of these overpayments is likely to erode public trust in the HMRC. Jonathan Eida, a researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, rightly pointed out that taxpayers will be fuming that tax officials have been filling their pockets with more than they’re entitled to, even if it’s by accident. The fact that a significant portion of the overpaid cash hasn’t been clawed back is even more concerning.

HMRC's Response

In response to these revelations, an HMRC spokesman stated that they operate at a monthly payroll average accuracy rate of 99.54%, which exceeds the corporate benchmark of 98%. However, this still means that 0.05% of the total paybill in the 2022-23 financial year was incorrectly paid. This equates to over £1.2 million, of which only 84% has been recovered.

Conclusion

These revelations highlight the need for improved financial controls within HMRC. It is unacceptable for public funds to be mismanaged in this way. HMRC must take immediate action to rectify these errors and ensure that every last penny of the overpaid money is reclaimed. Only then can public trust in the organization be restored.

The HMRC's erroneous overpayments are a stark reminder of the importance of financial accountability in public institutions. It is crucial that such institutions maintain the highest standards of financial management to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer money.


Tax does have to be taxing.

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HMRC Spunks £4.5M of Taxpayers' Money Up The Wall on Woke Non Jobs

In an era where every penny of public expenditure should be accounted for, the recent revelation of HMRC's spending on 'woke non-jobs' is nothing short of a scandal.

A Misguided Spending Spree

HMRC, the body responsible for collecting taxes and ensuring financial fairness, has ironically been caught in a wasteful spending spree. A whopping £4.5 million has been squandered on roles that have been labelled as 'woke non-jobs'. These are roles add little to no value to the organisation or to the public it serves.

Here are the non jobs that our taxes are paying for:

• Culture Impacting and Equalities Support
• Senior Consultant for Equality Diversity
• Values & Culture Advocate Lead
• Wellbeing Project Co-ordinator
• Culture Impacting and Equalities Support

The Cost of Irresponsibility

This £4.5 million is not just a number. It represents a colossal waste of public funds, funds that could have been better spent on improving public services, reducing the tax burden, or even paying down the national debt. Instead, this money has been frittered away on jobs that seem more focused on virtue signalling than delivering tangible benefits to the public.

A Call for Accountability

This situation calls for a serious examination of HMRC's spending priorities. It's high time that HMRC, like all public sector organisations, is held accountable for its spending decisions. The public deserves to know why such a significant amount of money is being spent on 'woke non-jobs' and what benefits, if any, these roles are bringing.

In conclusion, HMRC's £4.5 million spending on 'woke non-jobs' is a glaring example of financial irresponsibility. It's a stark reminder of the need for greater transparency, accountability, and financial prudence in all areas of public expenditure. 

The public deserves better, and it's high time that HMRC delivered!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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Sacked For Not Being Sorry Enough

In a recent turn of events, Gordon Askew, a member of the branch executive committee at HMRC's Benton Park View branch in Newcastle, was dismissed. The grounds for this dismissal were cited as 'potential' computer misuse.

Background

The dismissal followed a series of targeted strike actions taken by the branch, including three national days of strike action. In the aftermath of these strikes, HMRC launched an investigation into two Newcastle-based representatives.

The Charge

The charge against Askew was a 'potential' breach of the department's IT policy. This was allegedly due to a Microsoft Teams message sent to a number of PCS members, relating to the strike action. The department’s decision maker claimed that Microsoft Teams had been used “without a legitimate business reason”.

The Decision

Despite Askew's nearly thirty years of spotless service to the department, the decision maker opted for dismissal. It was stated that a lesser penalty was considered, but the decision to sack Askew was made because he didn’t appear to be sorry enough for what he had done.

A History of Dismissals

This is not the first time that a PCS representative has been dismissed by HMRC management in Newcastle. In 2017, the branch organiser was sacked for emailing the branch membership list from his work email account to his personal account². Despite PCS arguing that a PCS rep emailing PCS material from work to home was not a matter for the department, the dismissal proceeded. However, PCS was successful in securing the rep’s reinstatement.

Next Steps

PCS is currently discussing the next steps with their Legal Department. A meeting for all members of the branch will be held on 10 April to discuss the response to the sacking.

Conclusion

This incident raises questions about the treatment of union representatives and the interpretation of IT policies within HMRC. It underscores the importance of clear communication and fair treatment in the workplace. As the situation unfolds, PCS members and observers alike will be keenly watching the developments.


Tax does have to be taxing.

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HMRC Proudly Admits That a Human Wrote This!

 

 

HMRC has confirmed that it does not use AI to write letters sent to taxpayers, and is proud to confirm that the above was written by a member of its human staff!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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HMRC Announces 60% Office Attendance

 

 

HMRC has recently confirmed a significant change in office attendance for its employees. Starting from 2nd April 2024, all grades within the organisation will be required to attend the office at least 60% of their working time. This move comes as part of the government's efforts to transition back to a more traditional office-based work environment.

You would have thought that they should already be in the office on a daily basis!

The 'Office Attendance Tool'

To facilitate this transition, HMRC is introducing the Office Attendance Tool. Here are some key points about how it works:

1. Automatic Data Gathering: The tool automatically collects data from various sources to determine where an employee is working. If an employee docks their computer at an office desk, it registers as a day of office attendance. Connecting via Government Wi-Fi does not create a report, but swiping into an office with a swipe card system also counts as attending the office.

2. Manager Access: Managers do not have access to specific timings for swiping in or docking computers. The system simply registers office days without providing detailed information on arrival or departure times.

Outstanding Concerns

Despite the implementation date being set for 2nd April, there are several outstanding concerns raised by employees and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS):

1. Office Capacity: Employees are worried about office capacity and whether there will be enough space to accommodate the increased attendance.

2. Travel Costs: Some employees may face additional travel costs due to increased office attendance.

3. Training: Concerns exist regarding the level of training provided to staff and managers on how the tool functions.

4. Functionality: The functionality of the Attendance Tool itself has been questioned, especially after access issues were reported during the initial rollout.

As I said, it rather beggars belief that staff are not already in the office 60% of the time!
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HMRC's Helpline Debacle U Turn - Useless Wankers!

 

HMRC has recently been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In a move that can only be described as a spectacular display of poor judgement, HMRC announced plans to make permanent cuts to its helplines, only to retract the proposal less than 24 hours later. This incident not only exposes a worrying lack of foresight within the organization but also raises serious concerns about its commitment to serving taxpayers.

A Reckless Proposal

The initial decision to cut helplines was nothing short of reckless. It demonstrated a complete disregard for the needs of taxpayers, particularly those who are less tech-savvy or grappling with complex tax issues. The backlash was immediate and intense, and rightly so. Yet, the speed at which HMRC backtracked on its decision suggests that they were woefully unprepared for the consequences of their actions.

A Damning U-Turn

The swift U-turn, while necessary, is a damning indictment of HMRC's decision-making process. It paints a picture of an organisation that is out of touch with the needs of its constituents and incapable of strategic planning. This incident has done significant damage to HMRC's credibility and has left many taxpayers questioning whether they can trust the organisation to make sound decisions in the future.

A Missed Opportunity

Instead of using this incident as an opportunity to reassess its approach and improve its services, HMRC has chosen to simply revert to the status quo. This is a missed opportunity. HMRC should be investing in its helplines, improving the quality of support provided, and ensuring that all taxpayers have access to the help they need.

Conclusion

HMRC's helpline cuts debacle is a stark reminder of the importance of effective decision-making within public organisations. It's clear that HMRC needs to do better. It needs to demonstrate that it understands the needs of taxpayers and is committed to providing them with the support they require. Anything less is simply unacceptable.

HMRC is being run by useless wankers!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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