MOST people would be over the moon if they received a tax bill for one penny.

That is exactly what happened to Robert Grant, and at first he laughed out loud.

But then he realised he would have to spend more on the stamp than what he owed the Inland Revenue.

But if he does not pay up straight away he will be charged interest on the amount he owes.

The 55-year-old, of Wilcot Avenue, Penhill, is a bus driver for Thamesdown Transport but used to run the Penhill chip shop in Braydon Court.

He said: "It is just ridiculous but then that's the Inland Revenue for you.

"I already paid tax outstanding from when I ran my own business in January and then the next month they send me this bill.

"One of the reasons I gave up the business was because of all the bureaucracy.

"I am going to stick a penny to the bill, put it in an envelope and then drop it off at their offices.

"It would cost me more to even phone them up to sort it out, let alone buy a stamp.

"My wife just laughed when we got the bill and she laughed even louder when I told her I am doing a story in the paper.

"If I don't pay, then I'll owe interest. I mean how much interest are they going to earn on a penny?"

The bill reads as follows:

"The amount to pay is small. If you do not wish to pay this now it will be added to your next statement but you may be charged interest if you pay late."

Robert's wife Christine, 55, said: "I don't think it is an automated bill because it has all the details of what he paid last year.

"You would think they would add it on to the next bill.

"You don't know how much it costs just to send the letter out and who's paying for it at the end of the day? It's us, isn't it?"

Georgina Myles, spokeswoman for the Inland Revenue, said: "We do not comment on individual cases due to issues of confidentiality."