From: "x.x@ntlworld.com" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Court wants to know my NI number..
Date: 17 Nov 2006 10:32:13 -0800
   posting-account=OjpsDA0AAAAOYX9jXwVYAMT5_CAzL7Xx


Steve Firth wrote:
> On 17 Nov 2006 09:06:45 -0800, x.x@ntlworld.com wrote:
>
> > x.x@ntlworld.com wrote:
> >> Steve Firth wrote:
> >>> On 17 Nov 2006 08:06:27 -0800, x.x@ntlworld.com wrote:
> >>>
> >>> > I suspect it is for identification and / or database purposes. I would
> >>> > not think it is for your income details as your tax affairs are
> >>> > confidential.
> >>>
> >>> Your tax affairs are not confidential from the government, any wing of
> >>> government or the judiciary.
> >>
> >> Yes they are.
> >
> > To clarify  - they are to the extent there has to be a valid reason to
> > disclose ( i.e.  prevention and detection of crime ). Saying they are
> > not confidential does not mean information can be disclosed if there is
> > not a valid reason - i.e. out of curiosity.
>
> I completely agree, but that means that they are not confidential in the
> sense that they may never be disclosed, indeed they may be taken as *less*
> confidential than (say) a policeman's informant or a journalist's
> informant. A court can always order the disclosure of the relevant
> information and it will always be given. Journalists have a track record of
> not disclosing such information easily, even following a court order.
>
> And several branches of government have the right to see your tax records,
> not just HM R&C.
>
> There is of course also this:
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2662491.stm
>
> Interestingly the government advice on disclosure of NI number appears to
> indicate that one does not have to give that number to a court:
>
> http://www.direct.gov.uk/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/BeginnersGuideToTaxArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4015904&chk=izW7Qe
>
> I'd like to see what happens if someone refuses to give that information.


Of course I agree they are not confidential in the sense they can never
be revealed. What I cannot agree with is your comments that several
branches of government have the right of access to tax records - this
is not true. For example the DWP can request information for the
purposes of their work but that does not give them the right to tax
records / any information held. So for example they may require
specific information but there are limits on what information can be
disclosed - it will be restricted. Other government departments don`t
have the right of access - but what departments are they ?  There may
be joint working but to indicate there is a general right of access is
wrong.
Yes - I know all about browsing celebrity records ( but it is what is
in the files which is more interesting : )
Information disclosure and right of access are not the same.