HMRC apologises over £1bn tax bill blunder 28 May 2013 Last updated at 16:55 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has apologised after sending a tax demand for almost £1bn to the owner of a cafe in Greater Manchester. Florence Coke, owner of Mama Flo's in Gorton, was sent a tax bill for £979,092,858 in March. She said: "When I realised it was nearly £1bn I nearly fell over in the kitchen. I don't even make a wage. HMRC said it had "put matters right." Ms Cooke said she had now received an amended bill of £17,000. So stressed out Ms Cooke described the original demand for Value Added Tax (VAT) issued by HMRC in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, as "threatening." It stated it could seize her assets and sell them at auction or arrange for a debt collector agency to collect payment. She said: "I was so worried they would come and take all my stuff. I work 150 hours a week and I put everything I have into the cafe. I'm not even making a wage but I love it. "I am naive because it is my first time running a business," said the 59-year-old who set the cafe up in 2010. I called them and they denied they sent the tax bill but I told them I am not a mad woman. Ms Coke said it was made much worse because her mother died and she had to rush to Jamaica for the funeral. I was so stressed out. I had two major problems and I was worrying about my cafe while I was away. When she returned from her mother's funeral she received a letter of apology which she said she had accepted and a bunch of flowers from the HMRC. HMRC spokesman Bob Gaiger said: "We are very sorry to hear of the problems our customer has had. We can't comment on individual cases but have already contacted her to apologise and put matters right.