01 February 2002
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A simmering row over pay and job security for junior and middle-ranking staff has already produced a backlog of unprocessed tax returns and delays in sending out tax bills, say Revenue insiders.
The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents most tax officials, has now stepped up its overtime ban for the busy self-assessment period.
In a circular to members, the union said: 'The self-assessment peak presents an ideal opportunity for PCS members to let the board and ministers know how strongly they feel both about the need for a better pay system and action to be taken on future job quality and security.'
The overtime ban began in November after talks between PCS and the Revenue board broke down. The union has rejected a 2% pay offer and demanded an end to the department's performance pay scheme, which it calls 'divisive' and 'discriminatory'.
One senior manager admitted that 'hundreds of thousands' of tax returns remained unprocessed and that some taxpayers had been sent penalty charges of up to £200 for returns which were submitted on time but not processed by the Revenue because of the backlog.
'Self-assessment may not be in the news anymore but there are still real problems dating back to the start of the system. Industrial action obviously makes things worse,' said the official.
PFfeb2002