HM Revenue and Customs has named Jim Harra as its new second permanent secretary following Edward Troup’s decision to retire.
The move is a promotion for Harra, who has most recently been serving in a dual role of tax assurance commissioner and director general for customer strategy and tax design at the non-ministerial department.
Troup is currently HMRC’s executive chair and permanent secretary, serving alongside chief executive and permanent secretary Jon Thompson in a dual leadership arrangement in which Thompson is responsible for operations.
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HMRC confirmed the second permanent secretary role would remain in place following Troup's September announcement that he would retire by the end of the year. Harra’s appointment was approved by prime minister Theresa May.
Thompson said he was “delighted” Harra was taking on the second permanent secretary role at a time when HMRC faced a host of “enormous and important challenges”, including yet-to-be specified customs and border changes resulting from Brexit and its digital transformation programme.
“Jim knows HMRC and its customers well and will bring his usual dedication, knowledge and professionalism to the role,” he said.
“I look forward to working with him to tackle these challenges.”
HMRC said Harra’s appointment meant it continued to have a tax professional as one of its two permanent secretaries.
Troup has worked in the tax arena for the past 40 years, the last 13 of them split between HM Treasury and HMRC.