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HMRC have denied they run a two-tiered tax-filing system that provides higher security for selected sections of the population.
This is in response to media reports claiming that MPs, members of the royal family and some 'VIPs' are afforded greater protection than the rest of the public when submitting their tax returns.
The reports stated that the Revenue's online system was not considered safe enough for thousands of 'high profile' people.
'This is completely untrue,' said HMRC in official statement.
They went on to add: 'A small minority of taxpayers, including MPs, cannot currently use online services because the additional internal safeguards on their records mean that their taxpayer reference numbers are not recognised on the authentication system.
'This, therefore, has nothing to do with the security of our online services.
'HMRC online services use the highest levels of encryption generally available and authentication processes similar to online banks.'
The Revenue's position has been backed by Brian Palmer, chairperson of Working Together's E-Services sub-group, who described the media stories as 'mischief making'.
He added: 'We have sympathy with HMRC on this one'.
Mr Palmer explained that his organisation recently challenged the Revenue about the level of security offered by the online tax-filing system - and the reponse was satisfactory.
He said: 'All taxpayers deserve the same amount of security when filing their returns, irrespective of who they are… and I believe that HMRC provides for this'.
Mr Palmer went on to say that in the storing of information, it was logical that the Revenue would create higher levels of protection for sections of the populace, such as the royals.
