A WORCESTER pensioner has said she would be better off going to prison than forking out for an unpaid tax bill – because then at least she would be warm.

Retired cleaner Susan Richards was stunned when she opened a tax bill for £888.66 in March, which referred back to the 2007/2008 tax year.

Mrs Richards was told her tax code during that year was wrong and she would have to pay the money she owed.

But the 75-year-old does not know how this happened and has no way to pay such a large amount as she is in receipt of just her state pension.

Mrs Richards, of Poplar Avenue, Brickfields, said: “I’ve got my wage slips – I’ve even had a tax rebate.

"They reckon I should have paid this tax, but whose fault is that?

“I’m working, my employer sends my thing to the tax office and it gets sorted. It’s not my fault.

“Why didn’t they pick it up before? This happened between 2007 and 2008 and the first letter was sent in about March.”

Mrs Richards, who had three jobs at once before retiring about 18 months ago, was called earlier this week by HMRC and offered a payment scheme – but she could not afford to pay that either.

“I’ve got a mortgage, I’ve got a husband who is retiring, I just don’t know what to do,” she said.

“I’ve told them they have to send me to jail because I would rather go to jail than freeze.”

Attempts to get help from other sources have also not worked.

Mrs Richards said: “I rang the CAB and they put me onto Money Maker and they were supposed to be getting back to me, but didn’t.

"I’m just going round in circles.”

Jennie Kendall, spokesman for HMRC, said: “We are unable to comment on individual tax payer’s issues for reasons of confidentially.

“We are keen to work with customers to make realistic time to pay arrangements.”

• Since the Worcester News contacted HMRC, an officer has been in touch with Mrs Richards to say that she can appeal the bill.

Mrs Richards said she would be appealing – but that she was still willing to go to prison should she lose.