Written question asked by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 28 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Friday, 4 March 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many random checks on (a) self-employed and (b) small business tax returns there were in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these random checks identified (A) major and (B) minor errors or omissions. - Inc figures.

Answer: Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many random checks on (a) self-employed and (b) small business tax returns there were in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these random checks identified (A) major and (B) minor errors or omissions. [212349] Dawn Primarolo: I can inform that hon. Gentleman that in every year since 1997 the Inland Revenue has undertaken roughly 2600 random enquiries into the tax returns of self-employed individuals and roughly 250 random enquiries into the tax returns of small businesses. In the tax year 1997-98 adjustments were made to the returns in 32 per cent. of all random enquiries. The last year for which the Inland Revenue has produced complete analysis is 1998-99. In 1998-99 adjustments were made to returns in 30 per cent. of random enquiries.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 212349; 431 c1406W;431 c1400W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Inspections Income tax Small businesses Self-assessment Self-employed
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk