Revenue issues must be tackled
‘TAX doesn’t have to be taxing,’ as the UK Inland Revenue used to say in a series of self-assessment adverts.
Sadly, in Guernsey, that phrase doesn’t ring true. Time and time again the Revenue Service is in trouble, either due to staff shortages or technology failings.
It is understood that the organisation has been switching between numerous legacy IT systems and hard-pressed and under-fire staff are reaching the end of their tether.
To be fair to the Revenue Service, it doesn’t hide from its failings. But it’s had plenty of practice at fessing up.
And while the Tax Review has been ongoing, islanders have been openly questioning how the States can make its financial forecasts without the security of knowing its accurate tax position, so behind is the Revenue with assessments.
So the latest blow of false rebate letters, on top of errors on personal allowances and social security deductions, will damage its reputation and damage public trust still further.
Senior officers fronted up this week to apologise, pledge to do better, and assure all that there isn’t ‘any systemic underlying issue’ at the Revenue Service.
But these issues would not be tolerated in many other areas of the services sector, or indeed, public sector, and must be a cause for political concern and urgent remedial action.