I AM not surprised that HMRC have now discovered discrepancies in people's taxation details. For many years I have had problems with HMRC.

My husband is over 75 years and so is on the maximum personal allowance. I have dealt with his financial matters and since being entitled to save in accounts without paying tax on interest I have taken advantage of them, ie PEPs, TESSA, TOISA, CHOISA and now ISA etc. Consequently my husband's annual income for taxable purposes is lower than his personal taxable allowance.

With his permission the Married Couple's Allowance, currently worth £696.50, is passed to me and set against my tax amount from my annual income.

Because of this I have to complete a tax return and what 'fun and games' I have with HMRC. I have different tax offices every few years, they change the forms every few years (just in case one gets used to completing the form) and I need a certificate in answering the questions because I find them more and more confusing.

As I only went to a secondary modern school leaving in the early 50s, I studied mechanical and electrical engineering at college for my job as a draughtswoman for a few years and then joined the police service mainly dealing with plain clothes work, I never had the chance to study how HMRC works but I find I am the one who has to check my self assessment tax calculation to ensure that HMRC staff have worked out correctly the figures that I have submitted.

In the past it has taken months to sort out my tax details so this year, because I have not been well for some months, I decided enough was enough. I completed my tax return, copied every piece of paper, sent it to my tax office, plus a copy to the complaints office in?Cardiff and let them sort it out.

No problems.

I received my tax calculation dated July 15, showing I owed £114.25 which I agreed with.

I received a second tax calculation dated July 29 but received August 11 showing I had overpaid £582.25.

I telephoned my tax office the following day and asked the man who answered the phone to check the deliberate mistake on the tax calculation. I told him where to look. He told me he could not see it. I then had to explain to an officer of HMRC that no one is allowed two married couple's allowances as they had given me. He asked me to hold the line. I told him that he could ring me back.

This he did 25 minutes later and explained it was my fault for putting the details on my tax return. This is required by law.

The present Government is looking at ways of saving money. I would suggest that they reduce the number of staff that is employed at HMRC but keep those that know something about the work. Also to get rid of the 'brains' that keep altering the tax returns which make it more difficult to complete. – Janet P Pennock, Ruardean Woodside.