Guernsey Income Tax Office struggles with returns

Guernsey's Income Tax Office will not be accepting phone calls from the public on 13 days in order to deal with a backlog in returns and assessments.

Director Rob Gray said staff spent about 29 hours a week on the phone dealing with about 650 calls each week.

He said requests for calls only to be made for urgent matters had proved unsuccessful.

The closures will happen on Thursdays for three months starting on 6 September.

On these days the public counter facilities will close early at 14:00.

Mr Gray said: "Regrettably, we are falling behind with the issue of assessments this year.

"We are dealing with returns filed online from 29 August but the tax officers are only just dealing with paper returns received from the beginning of March... the constant interruption of the telephone does cause delays.

"We regret having to take this course of action and apologise for any inconvenience it may cause taxpayers. Telephones and other opening times for other weekdays will be unaffected."