Internet tax filing takes off
The number of people using the internet to file their self-assessment tax returns has more than doubled since last year, figures from the Inland Revenue have revealed.
Almost 700,000 tax payers filed their tax returns by the 31 January deadline, an increase of more than 350,000 on 2003. When combined with the 390,034 taxpayers using the electronic ledger service, it takes the online filing total to 1,079,298.
Sir Nick Montagu, chairman of the Revenue, described the news as a ‘milestone for government e-services’. He added: ‘Filing electronically offers many benefits, like immediate calculation, faster repayments and the certainty that your tax return has been received by the deadline.’
The news comes after the Revenue announced that Ann Chant, deputy chairman of the department and director general of strategic services, will take over temporarily from Sir Nick when he retires on 19 March.
Despite the good news, accountants remain suspicious about online filing, according to the latest Accountancy Age/Sage accountants in practice survey. Almost 40% of respondents said they felt ‘not at all confident’ or ‘not very confident’ in the Revenue’s delivery of e-services.