Tuesday 8th January 2008
January could be a stressful time for many individuals with self-assessment tax returns to fill in.
The deadline of January 31st is typically a busy time, with figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) showing 150,000 tax returns were filed over the 24-hour period in 2007.
But now those trying to meet this years cut-off date have been told they could be hit by strike action from HMRC staff.
More than 70,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) work for HMRC and are now voting on whether to walk out on January 31st.
However, the ballot does not close until the 23rd of the month - and the results are to be announced some time after that - which could leave taxpayers with little time to get their returns filed.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka comments: "With office closures and 13,000 job cuts to date, the department is already running on empty, resulting in deteriorating services.
"It is lunacy for HMRC to plough ahead with closing over 250 offices and to cut a further 12,500 jobs by 2011 - as HMRCs own staff survey indicates, morale is dangerously low."
A further point of contention between the government body and the PCS is the potential privatisation of security at some sites - including a number which store seized contraband.
Those concerned about meeting the deadline could be wise to file their tax return online - which HMRC states carries a number of benefits.
With the ability to process online returns immediately, any money owed to the taxpayer will be paid more quickly, while the calculation of how much tax is owed can be performed automatically, HMRC explains.
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