Information Rights Unit
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
David-Alexander Varney
020 7270 5000
By e-mail
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
www.gov.uk/hm-treasury
20th November 2023
Ref: FOI2023/18058
Dear David-Alexander Varney,
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your enquiry of 8 November 2023, which we have considered under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FOI Act).
You asked for the following information:
“i recently sent an FOIA request to HMRC agents, after which they stated that they didn't
hold the information that i required. Instead, they recommended that i forward the question
to you.
My question is straight forward and just requires a yes or no answer. Does any tax deducted
from people's wages in the UK go towards funding wars in foreign countries? Yes, or no?
Please also evidence your answer”
The FOI Act provides a right to recorded information. In order to exercise this entitlement, a request
must describe the specific recorded information sought. We believe that the terms of your enquiry
do not constitute a valid request for recorded information within the meaning of section 8(1)(c) of
the FOI Act, as it is not a request for specific recorded information, rather a general question about
hypothecation of personal taxes. We are therefore responding outside the FOI Act.
Income tax is the largest source of Government revenue and helps to fund the UK’s schools,
hospitals and other essential services that we all rely on. In 2023-24, the Office for Budget
Responsibility expect income tax to raise around £268 billion. However, income tax is not
hypothecated for specific uses.
The Government provides an ‘Annual Tax Summary’, which shows how the Government calculates
and spends an individual’s income tax and National Insurance contributions. This can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/annual-tax-summary If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. Please quote the reference number
above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely,
Information Rights Unit
Copyright notice
Most documents HM Treasury supplies in response to a Freedom of Information request, including
this letter, continue to be protected by Crown copyright. This is because they will have been
produced by Government officials as part of their work. You are free to use these documents for
your information, for any non-commercial research you may be doing and for news reporting. Any
other re-use, for example commercial publication, will require the permission of the copyright
holder. Crown copyright is managed by The National Archives and you can find details on the
arrangements for re-using Crown copyright material at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-
information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright
/
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
If you are not happy with this reply, you can request a review by writing to HM Treasury, Information
Rights Unit, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ or by emailing us at the address below. Any
review request must be made within 40 working days of the date of this letter.
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
It would assist our review if you set out which aspects of the reply concern you and why you are
dissatisfied.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you may apply directly to the Information
Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner will not make a decision unless you have
exhausted the complaints procedure provided by HM Treasury which is outlined above.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF (or via their website at: https://ico.org.uk).
