HMRC boss tells MPs ‘innocent errors’ are not penalised amid Zahawi tax row

Jim Harra says his officials will help in any way we can' with ethics inquiry into Tory chair's tax affairs

The head of HM Revenue and Customs has told MPs there are no penalties for innocent errors" in relation to tax affairs, raising further questions about the circumstances that led to the Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, being fined by the tax office.

HMRC's chief executive, Jim Harra, said his department did not penalise taxpayers who were deemed to have taken reasonable care".