HMRC bonuses revealed

Date: 21st February 2008

New figures have revealed that employees at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are in line to receive bonuses totalling over £23 million this year.

Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and disclosed by the Press Association this week, the data shows that bonus payments at the tax body for this financial year will total £23.1 million - a 22 per cent increase on last year's figure.

In addition, £2.2 million of the bonus pot will be divided between just a few hundred senior officials at HMRC, the Telegraph reports.

Commenting on the findings, chairman of the Commons Treasury sub-committee Michael Fallon described the payments as "rewards for failure".

The Tory MP was referring to a difficult year for HMRC which has seen the organisation criticised for losing child benefit records containing the personal details of millions of claimants.

Last month, the body came under fire again after its online system for filing tax returns collapsed on deadline day, leaving many people unable to submit their details.