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The chancellor is among nine Cabinet ministers accused of making the public fork out for the cost of accountants to complete their self-assessment tax returns. Alistair Darling was named with his colleagues Hazel Blears and Jacqui Smith as having claimed tax return advice out of a fund meant for the upkeep of their offices. He racked up a total of £1,400 on tailored accountancy work in just two years, according to the Daily Telegraph, which published these revelations yesterday. Its list of ministers who opened the public purse to pay for personal tax advisers includes David Miliband, Geoff Hoon, Hillary Benn, Douglas Alexander and James Purnell. In total, the nine ministers close to Gordon Brown, whose name was not listed, have charged the taxpayer £11,000 for private sector help with their personal tax affairs. This appears to be at odds with the Commons Green Book, which governs MP expenses, as it says claims for professional services are allowed only when it directly concerns their work. It will also anger cash-conscious firms and individuals, as claiming the cost of an accountant for tax services is not an allowable expense for most in the eyes of HMRC. And while the revelations from the Telegraph rest on smaller sums than those it cited for second home allowances, MPs’ claims for their offices could make them just as red-faced. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith apparently used her expenses to pay for a £240 Apple iPhone for her husband, who works as her personal assistant. Staff at Schools Secretary Ed Balls’ office tried to claim for two Remembrance Sunday poppy wreaths, though the parliamentary fees office rejected it. In addition, his wife, Yvette Cooper, the chief secretary to the Treasury, was one of eight ministers allowed to bill the taxpayer for digital cameras or camcorders. Asked by the Telegraph about his claims in 2007 and 2008, Mr Darling told the paper: “Like many MPs, I employed an accountant to prepare tax returns for the years in question to ensure that the correct amount of tax was paid.” Out of the all expenses claims made for accounting help, which were put through tax-free, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon’s was the biggest, reported to be £3,000. The outlay from the public purse is on top of claims for tax advice from more junior ministers, as well as backbench MPs, alleged to run into the thousands of pounds. The fund for Whitehall office expenses should have been used to cover basic office running costs, such as rental, staff hire and items like stationery, if required. May 26, 2009 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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