VOA: 125-year-old agency to be absorbed into HMRC
29 Apr Government Tax Profession

VOA: 125-year-old agency to be absorbed into HMRC

Union calls decision to move ALB's functions into HMRC a “slap in the face to hard-working civil servants”
by Tevye Markson
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
30 Apr Government Tax Profession
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
HMRC rejects recommendations to improve customer service performance
07 Apr Government Tax Profession
HMRC rejects recommendations to improve customer service performance
Spring Statement: HMRC gets £180m to help close tax gap
26 Mar Government Tax Profession
Spring Statement: HMRC gets £180m to help close tax gap
HMRC set to deliver £700m in efficiency savings this year
06 Mar Government Tax Profession
HMRC set to deliver £700m in efficiency savings this year
In final PAC appearance, Jim Harra says customer services is "big area" where more efficiency savings can be found
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
19 Feb Government Tax Profession
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
Tax agency says it has improved its performance after implementing recommendations from the Adjudicator's Office
HMRC urged to deliver productivity boost on tax collection
10 Feb Government Tax Profession
HMRC urged to deliver productivity boost on tax collection
Drive to recruit 5,000 extra compliance staff should be accompanied by performance rates returning to pre-pandemic levels, NAO says
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
28 Jan Government Tax Profession
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
Terms of reference for second review of HMRC's loan charge scheme published
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
23 Jan Government Tax Profession
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
Committee chair and HMRC perm sec exchange letters over scathing report
‘Baseless’: Jim Harra slams claim HMRC deliberately provided poor customer service
22 Jan Government Tax Profession
‘Baseless’: Jim Harra slams claim HMRC deliberately provided poor customer service
PAC report says HMRC has been “too willing to let its telephone services fail in the hope this forces people to use its digital services instead”
HMRC names Scottish Government perm sec JP Marks as next chief exec
19 Dec 2024 Government Tax Profession
HMRC names Scottish Government perm sec JP Marks as next chief exec
Cab sec says Marks “brings vast experience to the role" from his work in the Scottish Government and earlier roles at DWP
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
31 Oct 2024 Government Tax Profession
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
£110m will fund fraud-and-error hiring drives in both departments, while HMRC also gets £262m for debt-management staff
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
11 Jun 2024 Government Tax Profession
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
Party chairman flaunts letter from cabinet secretary as union seeks end to "opposition costings"
HMRC gets £51m to improve helplines as NAO finds customers are ‘being let down’
16 May 2024 Government Tax Profession
HMRC gets £51m to improve helplines as NAO finds customers are ‘being let down’
Reducing HMRC helpline staff too early in digitalisation drive has left holes in customer service, watchdog says
No difference between working from home and office, says HMRC chief
26 Apr 2024 Government Tax Profession
No difference between working from home and office, says HMRC chief
Jim Harra also defends HMRC over "gross distortions" made by a former secretary of state
Labour calls in heavy hitters to advise on 'modernising' HMRC
11 Apr 2024 Government Tax Profession
Labour calls in heavy hitters to advise on 'modernising' HMRC
Former HMRC perm sec Edward Troup is among expert panel that will also look at how to boost tax compliance
HMRC funding boost to pay for 700 extra debt officers
14 Dec 2023 Government Tax Profession
HMRC funding boost to pay for 700 extra debt officers
But perm sec Jim Harra tells MPs that not all of the additional staff will be working in-house
HMRC helpline summer closure 'nothing to do with flexible working', second perm sec insists
29 Jun 2023 Government Tax Profession
HMRC helpline summer closure 'nothing to do with flexible working', second perm sec insists
Angela MacDonald says decision is influenced by extra need for efficiencies due to inflation
MPs ask HMRC for answers over summer helpline closure
16 Jun 2023 Government Tax Profession
MPs ask HMRC for answers over summer helpline closure
Treasury Committee questions impact of self-assessment phone line changes on citizens and lack of notice
Hunt urged to 'think twice' about closing Office of Tax Simplification
14 Mar 2023 Government Tax Profession
Hunt urged to 'think twice' about closing Office of Tax Simplification
MPs says closure is "unnecessary", pointing to OTS claim that it "achieves far more than it costs"
HMRC boss: Cabinet Office could demand information on would-be ministers’ tax affairs
26 Jan 2023 Government Tax Profession
HMRC boss: Cabinet Office could demand information on would-be ministers’ tax affairs
As Zahawi row rumbles on, Jim Harra tells MPs of "frustration" over misleading briefings that department cannot challenge
HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays
25 Jan 2023 Government Tax Profession
HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays
Perm sec blames unnecessary calls and last-minute rush to file tax returns for busy phone lines
Nadhim Zahawi tax row: PM orders new ethics adviser to investigate
23 Jan 2023 Government Tax Profession
Nadhim Zahawi tax row: PM orders new ethics adviser to investigate
Ex-chancellor's admission of a settlement with HMRC leaves "questions that need answering", Sunak says
HMRC not deploying enough staff to tackle £42bn tax gap, MPs say
12 Jan 2023 Government Tax Profession
HMRC not deploying enough staff to tackle £42bn tax gap, MPs say
"Eye-watering" sum owed in unpaid taxes could have helped fill "public spending black hole", PAC says
Angela MacDonald shares HMRC's 2022 highlights – including capturing Britain’s most wanted woman
15 Dec 2022 Government Tax Profession
Angela MacDonald shares HMRC's 2022 highlights – including capturing Britain’s most wanted woman
The tax agency’s second perm sec contemplates the careful and compassionate leadership that will be required to prepare for the challenges of 2023
HMRC phone lines closed over 'technical issue' – MPs demand answers
05 Dec 2022 Government Tax Profession
HMRC phone lines closed over 'technical issue' – MPs demand answers
Suspension of helpline services a "serious concern", Treasury committee chair says
PCS to reballot HMRC on strike action after 47% turnout falls short
10 Nov 2022 Government Tax Profession
PCS to reballot HMRC on strike action after 47% turnout falls short
HMRC will vote to join industrial action in early 2023, union chief Mark Serwotka predicts
HMRC using ‘digital prompts’ to ensure wealthy people pay enough tax
04 Oct 2022 Government Tax Profession
HMRC using ‘digital prompts’ to ensure wealthy people pay enough tax
Departmental report reveals use of technology and data to help identify possible shortfalls