Millions of people are set to learn today that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has requested taxes of them that they did not owe.
The National Audit Office (NAO) has established that errors in processing at the HMRC has led to overpayments of £157 million during the last year, the Herald reports
Meanwhile, HMRC has published a consultation paper calling for powers to take payment directly from bank accounts as well as the ability to require payment from the sale of land or property of non-paying individuals or businesses.
The NAO’s findings suggest that around 500,000 people have been undercharged in the last year, while around 540,000 were overcharged by an average of £290.
Meanwhile, VNUnet.com reports that the institution intends to invest £156 million over the next five years in an IT programme intended to increase calculation accuracy.