More queues on tax return deadline day
MORE issues have blighted the tax office on deadline day, when there was a queue of about 20 islanders waiting outside before the office event opened.
The office at Edward T Wheadon House has been mobbed all week with islanders having last-minute issues with their 2023 returns.
Almost everyone the Guernsey Press spoke to yesterday morning blamed the tax office for having to come down on deadline day.
‘Being here on the last day, it is all a little last minute.com, but it is really not my fault,’ said one woman in the queue, who preferred not to be named.
‘I have had a nightmare with the tax office. I had an account, but it was set up in my maiden name and it wouldn’t let me in with my married name. I’ve emailed, rang and come down in person over the last couple of months.
‘But the queues are too long to get it sorted out in a one-hour lunchtime.’
She said she had originally submitted paper forms in October.
‘But I didn’t get a receipt. I then got a letter saying I would get a fine. This time I’m queuing for the receipt and I’ve taken a photo of every page.’
‘A few years ago I cancelled a holiday because I got a £4,000 bill – it ended up that they owed me £600.’
The islander, who worked in finance, questioned why more staff were not employed before deadline day.
‘We recruit when we need staff – why can’t work here be outsourced overseas? Its not reinventing the wheel.
‘I feel sorry for the staff as they have to deal with the irate people.’
And she was not the only one saying the tax office had lost their tax return somewhere between the ground floor reception and the third floor.
One 76 year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, said he did his return online.
‘But I had to do my wife’s for the first time, who is 86 and does not have email, so we did it on paper.’
The pensioner said he had given it in to the office in February last year.
‘Then I got a letter last week saying it was outstanding. I wasn’t best pleased. I’ve had to spend this week sorting it all out.’
At the other end of the age spectrum was a 19-year-old, who was filing her first tax return.
‘I did not know I had to do one until the last minute. I tried to do it online, but when I logged in I didn’t have the option of selecting 2023,’ she said.
‘And I know I’m not the only one who has had this problem as I’m actually collecting a tax form for a friend as well who found exactly the same thing.’
