I can barely believe I'm writing this, but leave HMRC alone

There is much to criticise HM Revenue and Customs about, and believe me, I know. It's 13 years since I left them to become gamekeeper turned poacher, and ever since I have dealt with them every day of my working life. Often, they are utterly hopeless, and their 'customer' service has become simply appalling.

This week though, they have been getting an unfair press.

The media has absolutely loved this week, being able to take a pop at HMRC over these letters that have been sent out to people over these under and over payment letters. Some 6 million sent out, according to reports, and all the papers have been united - this is a B L U N D E R. Yet more evidence of a useless organisation.

They could barely be more wrong.

These discrepancies have arised purely because the the PAYE system is imperfect. Any deductions in a tax code are retrospective, a guess based on what happened in the past, and unless the individual tells HMRC of changes, how are they supposed to know? They wont, unless YOU tell them.

These inaccurate deductions have been going on since PAYE began, and believe it or not, HMRC have usually found out in due course. When I was there, each of us was given a list of names and NI Numbers, some 80 pages of A3 paper, all of whoms deductions didn't quite add up. Our job, as 'Revenue Officers', was to plough through this list in time, issuing the assessments and await the phone calls.

Except of course, often there wasn't time, so these lists often got forgotten, (Not mine though - why do you think I left, I was good at it!), and as a result the government's revenue and individuals refunds would be left under the carpet.

So all HMRC are guilty is investing into a new swanky computer system that does the assessments all at once, taking those lists away from hard pressed staff and probably making savings. Ironically, those debasing the new system the most are of course those papers that lambast public services for 'waste' with the most vigour.

HBTY

Today I become the parent of a teenager. This life landmark, along with the other big one looming in two months time, are likely to bring on a severe attack of naval gazing (metaphorically, rather than literally - I can only properly look at my naval in the mirror) and conclude with agonies over whether it is all worth it. But that is for tomorrow.

All that matters today is wishing a happy birthday to Phoebe Haggart. 13 awesome years.