This could pay for an extra 2,500 junior call handlers if they were paid the national minimum wage as is the norm for a third of HMRC employees.

Nigel Huddleston, financial secretary to the Treasury confirmed the new funding in a statement to parliament, pledging that the money would address the current 66.6% calls answered rate.

‘The government is providing HMRC with £51m in new funding to bring HMRC’s phoneline service back up to the published target of 85% of calls to HMRC advisers being answered,' Huddleston said.

‘The additional funding enables HMRC to meet the performance standards on its phone lines that its customers expect, while continuing the transition to a digital first model of tax administration.