An Ipswich lorry driver has spoken of his horror after receiving an incorrect tax bill of more than £36,000 from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Edward Sturgeon feared he would have to sell his house when he was sent the letter instructing him to repay the money by June 25.

HMRC clarified the error the next day - the real sum owed was £3,040 - and said the £36,035.19 figure quoted in the letter was a typo.

Mr Sturgeon, 55, received a tax refund for more than £3,000 several years ago through Stowmarket firm Apostle Accounting.

Apostle has come under fire in recent months after several of its former clients have been told to repay rebates received through the company, some to the tune of thousands of pounds.

Ipswich Star: Apostle Accounting claimed Mr Sturgeon's tax refundApostle Accounting claimed Mr Sturgeon's tax refund (Image: Newsquest)

The accountancy firm has denied any wrongdoing and blamed HMRC, saying it should not have authorised the refunds.

Apostle is being investigated by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit police force over the issue.

Mr Sturgeon, 55, was working when his wife, Sally, opened the letter telling him to repay the £36,035.19 sum.

He said: "We thought we would have to sell the house. Neither of us slept the whole night and I had to be up for work at 1am.

"My wife was frantic. It was a horrible, horrendous day. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. 

"I just burst into tears when I found out it was a typo.

"I don't expect anything from HMRC. We haven't had any apology."

An HMRC spokesman said: "We’d like to apologise to Mr Sturgeon for this isolated mistake, which only affected the covering letter.

"Customers can make their own claims direct with us online at GOV.UK and if they do so, can keep all of what they are due.

"You should treat promises of easy money with real caution - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

"Handing over sensitive personal information could leave you having to pay back the full value of any invalid claim made on your behalf."