In the age of banking apps and instant transfers, taxpayers still had to foot a quarter-of-a-million-pound bill for Revenue Jersey to keep licking envelopes and posting letters and cheques back to them last year, Express has learned.
According to information released following an Express request under the Freedom of Information Law, the government department in charge of all things tax spent £256,569 on communicating with taxpayers via letters in the post in 2025, an FOI request submitted by Express uncovered.
It comes one month after the Treasury Minister responded to calls for electronic tax refunds, saying it “needs to be done in a robust way”.
Despite rapid advances in banking technology, Revenue Jersey continues to rely on a cheque-by-default approach for both tax and Social Security refunds.
“They shouldn’t have to send cheques in 2026”
Responding to the newly confirmed cost of a paper-based approach, Tony Moretta, Chief Executive of Digital Jersey said that, while he appreciated there may be a “a balancing act” to consider, the Revenue Jersey was nonetheless behind in its digitisation efforts.
“I think they shouldn’t have to send cheques in 2026. There are always risks, but every other organisation seems to have resolved them,” he said.
However, he added that, in the interim, there was another solution for Islanders who receive cheques in the post.
Certain banks like his, NatWest, now allow customers to scan cheques in via their smartphone app, so they wouldn’t necessarily have to head to a bank to deposit them.
“Inefficient and technologically behind”
Previously, one Islander told Express that they were “flabbergasted” by the experience of receiving a tax refund through the post.
“I had a refund recently, and, once confirmed over the phone, they then posted a letter to say I’ll get the refund in the next 10 days,” they said.
“A few days later, I received the cheque in the post – a cheque which I then had to go and pay in. So, a letter and then an actual refund.
“I don’t understand how a government department is so inefficient and technologically behind.
“How much money is being wasted with this inefficiency?” they asked – a question now answered.
“This needs to be done in a robust way”
However, Deputy Millar insisted at the time that there were reasons for the cautious pace of change, pointing to fraud risks associated with digital payments.
“This needs to be done in a robust way, as Revenue Authority processes are recognised targets for fraudsters,” she explained.
Highlighting the potential dangers, the Treasury Minister referenced a major UK case in which HMRC lost £47 million to fraudulent tax repayment claims following a phishing attack.
Electronic repayment trials later this year
For now, islanders who cannot use cheques are able to request a BACs transfer – but only by making specific arrangements.
Treasury has confirmed it will begin trialling electronic repayments as the default option later this year – initially limited to businesses.
“Revenue Jersey will begin by rolling out BACs-by-default repayments to corporate entities later this year,” said Deputy Millar.
“After learning any lessons, they will be looking to then expand this approach to individuals.”
A government spokesperson confirmed that their postal correspondence that costs this figure covers all the following:
- Administering and collecting personal income tax, corporate income tax, goods and services tax and land transaction
- Tax overpayment refunds specifically
- Collecting social security contributions
- Collecting long-term care contributions
- Helping and encouraging people to get their taxes and contributions right
- Dealing with those who choose to evade their responsibilities
- Ensuring that Jersey’s international tax exchange agreements are properly administered
