HMRC staff announce strike on eve of self-assessment tax deadline in pay dispute
16 January 2025, 17:36 | Updated: 16 January 2025, 20:51
HMRC staff are set to walk out days before the self-assessment online tax return deadline.
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The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) confirmed its members employed by a private firm at HM Revenue and Customs are set to walk out on the last two days of January.
The move could impact millions requiring help with their self-assessment tax return ahead of the January 31 deadline.
The union said more than 300 workers employed by Fujitsu Services UK at offices across the country have been offered a pay rise of just 1.5 per cent.
However, their in-house colleagues received a 5 per cent raise this year for doing similar jobs.
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Members voted by 87 per cent for strike action and by 95.6 per cent for action short of a strike.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "There is no excuse for workers employed by Fujitsu being offered less than those employed directly by HMRC.
"If the Government was serious about its pre-election pledge to bring in the 'biggest wave of insourcing in a generation' now is the chance to end the scandal of a two-tier workforce.
"It's not too late for ministers to step in, resolve the pay issue and prevent strike action likely to play havoc with people's tax returns."
An HMRC spokesperson said: "We have robust plans in place to ensure we continue delivering critical services for our customers during any industrial action."
