Plans to give HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the power to seize money directly from the bank accounts of those who owe the taxman money have been criticised by an influential group of MPs.
The Treasury Committee said it has "considerable concern" about the idea, which it warns could result in innocent people having cash taken from them.
HMRC estimates 17,000 people a year will be affected, and says money will only be taken after four demands for payment have been ignored.
The cross-party group wants further scrutiny of Chancellor George Osborne's debt collection proposals before they are implemented, describing a "lengthy and full consultation" as "essential".
Compensation and disciplinary action are suggested by the committee as extra safeguards.
Sky's Chief Political Correspondent Jon Craig, who described the report as "damning", said the criticism could mean the policy is delayed until after next year's election.
George Osborne announced the plans in this year's Budget The concerns are contained in a report on this year's Budget.
In the report, the MPs say the change could be akin to the reintroduction of the discredited Crown Preference Rule by stealth.
This gave HMRC priority access to assets when companies went out of business.
"Giving HMRC this power without some form of prior independent oversight - for example by a new ombudsman or tribunal, or through the courts - would be wholly unacceptable," the MPs said.
The Chancellor argues the Department for Work and Pensions has similar powers for chasing child maintenance payments.
But the committee said: "The parallel is not exact: in those cases, DWP is acting as an intermediary between two individuals."
"HMRC would be acting not as an intermediary between two individuals but rather in pursuit of its own objective of bringing in revenue for the Exchequer."
The chance of fraud and errors occurring is also highlighted, with the MPs warning this would be a "serious detriment" to taxpayers.
The report says: "This policy is highly dependent on HMRC's ability accurately to determine which taxpayers owe money and what amounts they owe, an ability not always demonstrated in the past."
A Treasury spokesperson said it was "important people pay the tax they owe on time", and added: "The proposed powers will give HMRC another tool to collect tax debt owed.
"The current consultation includes a range of safeguards to ensure the power is tightly targeted."
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