Shropshire tax offices face axe in closures
Five tax offices in Shropshire and Mid Wales are set to be axed in plans revealed today.
The plans by HM Revenue and Customs to close tax inquiry centres in Britain will put 1,300 jobs at risk – and see the closure of offices in Shrewsbury, Telford, Ludlow, Oswestry and Welshpool.
They will be replaced by a telephone service.
The plans have drawn criticism in Shropshire, as civic leaders have said there is 'no substitute' for face to face meetings.
But HMRC chief executive Lin Homer said one-to-one support will still be offered in a range of 'convenient' locations, including a person's own home.
The new phone service is set to be trialled for 1.5 million people in the North and North East of England.
If the trials are successful, the remaining centres out of the current total of 281 will close next year.
HMRC claims the number of customers using enquiry centres throughout Britain has more than halved in the last few years, from 5 million in 2005/6 to less than 2.5 million last year.
A consultation has been launched, which ends on May 24. The results will be published on June 3, after which a pilot scheme will take place in the North East.
A final decision on the remaining offices, including those in Shropshire, will take place in December, with a view to closure in January.
Hardship fears if five tax offices are axed - Read more in today's Shropshire Star
