In a previous weekly tax bulletin the firm reported problems with HMRC's computers had given some taxpayers a "fit of the Norwegian Blues" by reclassifying them as "deceased".

Baker Tilly has now got wind of one person who contacted HMRC in response to a letter expressing sympathy etc and received a bewildering response.

"After persuading officialdom to reinstate her as a live taxpayer she asked how the mistake had arisen. 'We don't make mistakes, madam' was the response, according to the firm.

"Fortunately the lady concerned gives more weight to the evidence of her own senses than to HMRC's assertion of infallibility," said acid-tongued tax honcho George Bull.

It looks like rumours reporting the demise of the taxman's pig-headed unwillingness to admit a clanger have been greatly exaggerated.