Taxpayers to get longer to file their returns if they can't get through to HMRC on 31 January HMRC said that anyone who was prevented from filing their return by the strike would not have to pay the automatic £100 late penalty as long as they send a letter explaining their return was delayed because they could not get through. One HMRC source said: "We will make sure that no one is disadvantaged as a result of the action." The strike action has been called by the Public Commercial Services (PCS) union, which is campaigning against HMRC's plans to try to improve the way it handles peaks in phone calls to its contact centres. An internal PCS mail sent to HMRC staff this week urged staff to support the "full day strike" on 31 January against what it describes as an attempt to "privatise" the HMRC call centres. It said: "On 31 January, we will step up our action on what is the highest profile day of the HMRC year, using the additional media focus on HMRC to further promote our message that the transfer of work from HMRC to the private sector is uneconomical, unsafe, and irresponsible. "The action we are asking members to take is in defence of all our members" jobs and terms and conditions, which are all threatened by the outsourcing of work to the private sector. The Government are looking for soft targets to cut costs, and if they can get AO [admin officer] work done in the private sector for £6.50 an hour, with no pension costs, less annual leave and without paid sick leave, and without opposition from PCS members, then they will undoubtedly do it. Last night, a HMRC spokesman said: "HMRC is not privatising existing contact centre jobs but we are determined to improve the service we provide to our customers. This means considering a variety of options including drawing on the knowledge and experience of external contact centre operators. Industrial action is unwarranted and unnecessary. We are doing everything possible to maintain services to the public and we will continue talking to the unions to address their concerns.