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This is almost put into every FOI response.

Last week I received my response from the HMRC. It was sent by postal mail rather than email, and oddly was sent firstly to Sweden by mistake and then here to Florida. Anyway the response is comprehensive and useful. I will be able to scan the main body of the reply, however the list of geographic equivalents may be more difficult to put into a useful format. I may just create a jpeg or something and use some webspace somewhere.

The HMRC has answered all my questions except one - it is withholding the amount of revenue it recieves. It states that it 'makes no profit' and that there is an 'annual cost to HMRC for the provision of this service'.

It is aware of the difficulties encountered by international callers, and it says that it is addressing the issue. It believes it complies with the COI advice. Its scam numbers are provided by C&W.

It has provided me with a four page table of tax office geo equivalents. Until I have this in an easy format, I'm happy to provide specific numbers on request - please quote the 0845 tax number and the office location.

I'm less clear what it has provided me on the customs side - there is a long list of geographic numbers with an abbreviated location, but no direct correlation with any NGN. Once again, I'll try top accommodate any request for numbers.

I am satisfied with its reponse. I do not have the time nor inclination to appeal against its withholding of the revenue, and will leave this matter to people like Dr Cable who will have a much better chance than myself at extracting these figures.

All in all, a very helpful reply from HMRC.

I'm still unhappy that I have to keep wasting my valuable time requesting this information in the first place. I really do have better things to do, but the NTS extortion does need to be eliminated.