Worsley MP Terry Lewis, who normally uses an accountant, tries to fill in his own tax return after taking up a challenge from the Chartered Institute of Taxation

WORSLEY MP Terry Lewis has admitted that he cannot fill in his own tax return as he backed a call to simplify the system.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation is calling on MPs to try to complete their tax returns this year without professional help to find out just how difficult the tax system has become for ordinary people.

The Institute has sent a letter to all 658 MPS asking them to fill in their returns without an accountant's help and calculate their tax liability using the Inland Revenue's own guide.

The Institute, the leading body representing taxation professionals, is campaigning for a simpler tax system to help individual taxpayers, pensioners and small business people who find it too difficult.

President Richard Mannion said: "This exercise ought to result in a mass uprising in the House.

"I have spent my whole career in the field of taxation, but I would no longer dare to calculate the tax position for a client with even moderately complicated affairs without the use of a specialised computer system.

"By inviting MPs to handle their own tax this year, we are trying to draw attention to the vastly over complicated tax system and to create a climate for real change.

"We are confident that MPs will respond to our proposals, speak out about their experiences, and thus focus the Government's attention on the desperate need for fairer taxation."

Mr Lewis said: "I can't fill in my own tax return. It's simply too complicated.

"I have to pay an accountant several hundred pounds a year to do it for me.

"The tax system is far too complex for ordinary people. It really is time that we did something to simplify the tax system and I fully support the campaign.

"I think this is an excellent idea and will make more MPs aware of the problems people face trying to fill in their tax returns."