MORE than 80 jobs at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in Ipswich and Felixstowe will be axed within the next two years under new cost-cutting proposals, it emerged today.

MORE than 80 jobs at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in Ipswich and Felixstowe will be axed within the next two years under new cost-cutting proposals, it emerged today.

HMRC has launched a national consultation programme aimed at reducing its annual costs by £30million by April 2008.

Unions claim more than 200 offices and thousands of jobs will go nationwide, although a spokeswoman for HMRC today claimed nothing was set in stone.

The spokeswoman said because of the merger of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise in April 2005, the department had more buildings and staff than it required.

There are two offices in Ipswich - Haven House in Lower Brook Street, and St Clare House in Greyfriars - along with Custom House in Felixstowe.

Currently, 881 people are employed in the three offices, a figure which will be cut to 800 by 2008.

Paul Gray, acting chairman of HMRC said: “Today's announcement sets out the modernisation and transformation that HMRC wants to undertake over the next five years to put our taxpayers, claimants and other customers at the heart of everything we do, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness.

“The creation of HMRC, where Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue were integrated, means the new organisation now has more space than it needs.

“We are taking the opportunity to save taxpayers' money by operating with fewer buildings in a more co-ordinated cost efficient way.

“We are inviting all staff to comment on our proposals and to fully participate in our programme of change.”

HMRC has a government target of 12,500 net staff savings by April 2008.

Are you concerned at the job losses? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Weblink: www.hmrc.gov.uk