Heads Up HMRC!

I know you let Rayner off, but still have a looksy eh?

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HMRC's Four Day Week

 

HMRC’s Whitehall HQ Barely a Fifth Full on Fridays – While They Demand You File On Time And Answer Every Letter

Whilst we are still stuck in the real world of Monday-to-Friday graft answering HMRC’s endless demands, their own staff treat Fridays like a national holiday.

New figures obtained by Guido Fawkes’ FOI Unit reveal the glorious reality of HMRC’s flagship headquarters at 100 Parliament Street. On working Fridays between April 2025 and March 2026, the place was barely a fifth full. Average Monday-to-Thursday attendance was 358 people. On Fridays it plunged roughly 43% lower. The best Friday of the entire year managed just 264 bodies — still well below a normal weekday.

HMRC helpfully reduced desk capacity from 516 to 391 in 2025. Even with fewer desks, Monday-to-Thursday attendance averaged a respectable 89%. Fridays? A pathetic 50%. Half the desks empty. Taxmen sticking their feet up, doing the laundry, or working from the sofa while the rest of us keep the economy going.

And yet the official line remains pure gold: “We expect all office-based colleagues to spend at least 60% of their working time in an HMRC office.” Hybrid working, they claim, helps them “attract and retain the talent we need to deliver for our customers.”

Deliver for customers? 

The same customers who wait an hour on hold, get hung up on deadline day, wait years for refunds, and face quarterly MTD reporting while HMRC’s own office stands half-empty every Friday?

This is the department that lectures the self-employed about digital record-keeping, demands perfect compliance, and sends debt collectors after pensioners for £47. Meanwhile their own staff treat Fridays as optional and the building looks like a ghost town.

Four-day week creeping in by the back door? Looks that way. Just don’t expect any four-day week for the rest of us when the next brown envelope arrives.

Tax does have to be taxing.

But when HMRC’s own flagship HQ is barely a fifth full on Fridays while they insist on 60% attendance and still can’t deliver basic service? That’s not taxing — that’s institutional hypocrisy with empty desks as the evidence.

Work from home on Fridays by all means, lads. Just stop pretending you’re delivering world-class customer service while the lights are off.

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HMRC to Automatically Sign Up MTD Taxpayers From September

 

HMRC to Automatically Sign Up MTD Taxpayers From September – Because Voluntary Compliance Was Too Soft

Just when you thought Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD ITSA) couldn’t get any more heavy-handed, HMRC has decided to stop asking nicely.

From September, the taxman will start automatically signing up eligible taxpayers for MTD. No more polite invitations. No more “please join when you’re ready”. If your qualifying income (self-employment and/or property) is over the threshold, they’ll just enrol you whether you like it or not.

This is the same department that still can’t answer the phone without putting you through an hour of hold music, takes years to process refunds, and harasses 93-year-old terminally ill veterans over returns they’ve already filed. Yet somehow they’ve found the time and resources to force every eligible person into their digital quarterly reporting regime.

Let’s remind ourselves what this actually means:

• You’ll need compatible software
• You’ll have to keep digital records all year
• You’ll submit quarterly updates instead of one annual return
• Miss a deadline and the new penalty points system starts ticking
• All while HMRC’s own systems remain a creaking, unreliable mess

The soft landing and voluntary period were always a mirage. Now the gloves are off. From September they’ll start dragging people in automatically so that by April 2027 (and the lower £30k threshold) the net is fully cast.

This is classic HMRC: demand more data, more frequency, more compliance from you, while their own customer service, processing times and basic competence remain an absolute shambles. They’re happy to use AI and force automation on accountants, but when it comes to their own digital services they still can’t get the basics right.

Tax does have to be taxing.

But automatically signing people up to quarterly digital reporting while the department itself remains incapable of answering a simple phone call or processing a refund in under two years? That’s not taxing — that’s digital dictatorship dressed up as modernisation.

Get ready. The quarterly grind is coming whether you want it or not.

 

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Rayner's Penalty Free Tax Debacle

 

HMRC CEO John-Paul Marks previously served as Principal Private Secretary to Yvette Cooper, a senior Labour politician. 

Marks was appointed HMRC chief executive in April 2025, after leading the Scottish Government civil service.

He oversaw the decision clearing Rayner of deliberate tax avoidance or carelessness on the £40k of underpaid stamp duty for her Hove flat, resulting in payment of the underpaid tax but no penalty. 

Rayner resigned as Deputy PM in September 2025 over the stamp duty issue, but described the HMRC outcome as exoneration.

I am sure that Marks did not personally intervene in this case. However, with anything like this it is not just a matter of being impartial and honest, it is also important that you appear to be impartial and honest. 

Otherwise, people will never trust you to be impartial and honest!

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DEI Must Die! - Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Consultant £58K - £72K

 

My thanks to a loyal reader who sent me this job advert for a non job of DEI Consultant in HMRC, up to £72K.

Why the hell are taxpayers footing the bill for these absurd roles that add zero value to the organisation? 

 

Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Consultant

HM Revenue and Customs

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 18th August 2026

 

Return to search results

Details

Reference number

473109

Salary

£58,541 - £72,711

National min £58,541 - max £64,624

London min £65,869 - max £72,711

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

HMRC - PPG UBS & Customer Experience

Type of role

Human Resources

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
  
• About the job
  
• Benefits
  
• Things you need to know
  
• Apply and further information
  

Location

Belfast Regional Centre - Erskine House

Birmingham Regional Centre - Arena Central

Bristol Regional Centre - 3 Glass Wharf

Cardiff Regional Centre - Ty William Morgan

Edinburgh Regional Centre - Queen Elizabeth House

Glasgow Regional Centre - Atlantic Square

Leeds Regional Centre - Wellington Place

Liverpool Regional Centre - Water Street

Manchester Regional Centre - Three New Bailey

Newcastle Upon Tyne - Benton Park View

Nottingham Regional Centre - Unity Square

Stratford Regional Centre - Westfield Avenue

Croydon - Ruskin Square

Please note that due to workforce controls, Newcastle is only available to existing HMRC staff in this location.

About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.

   

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

Join HMRC’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team and play a key role in shaping an inclusive and respectful workplace that reflects the communities we serve. The EDI team provides expert advice, insight and challenge across a wide range of people, policy and organisational priorities, helping senior leaders make informed decisions that support inclusion, improve colleague experience and meet our legal obligations.

As an EDI Senior Consultant, you will be a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing expertise on equality, diversity and inclusion issues and leading the delivery of strategic EDI priorities. You will work across organisational boundaries, engaging with HR colleagues, business areas, Staff Diversity Networks and senior stakeholders to influence decision-making, manage complex issues and drive improvement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong EDI knowledge with sound judgement, political awareness and the ability to turn complex information into clear, practical advice.

Job description

As an EDI Senior Consultant, you will provide strategic leadership, expert advice and delivery support across a broad portfolio of equality, diversity and inclusion activity. Working in a fast-paced and often complex environment, you will help senior leaders understand EDI risks, opportunities and impacts, ensuring that inclusion considerations are effectively embedded into decision-making and organisational priorities.

You will lead and oversee multiple workstreams, balancing competing priorities while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality outcomes.

The role requires strong collaboration across a diverse stakeholder landscape, including senior leaders, HR colleagues, policy teams, operational business areas and Staff Diversity Networks. You will build trusted relationships and use your influencing skills to support positive and sustainable change.

A key aspect of the role is providing high-quality written and verbal advice. You will prepare briefings, reports, governance papers and recommendations for senior audiences, translating complex information into clear, balanced and actionable insights. You will also use data, evidence and stakeholder feedback to identify emerging issues, assess risks and inform strategic decision-making.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and support to team members, helping to create an inclusive and high-performing team environment while ensuring delivery remains aligned to departmental priorities.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and challenge on equality, diversity and inclusion matters, supporting senior leaders to make informed and inclusive decisions.
  
• Lead the delivery of EDI priorities, projects and improvement initiatives aligned to departmental objectives and legal obligations.
  
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders, HR colleagues, business areas and Staff Diversity Networks.
  
• Produce high-quality briefings, reports and governance papers for Director and Deputy Director-level audiences.
  
• Use data, evidence and insight to identify risks, opportunities and recommendations that support inclusion and organisational performance.
  
• Manage and oversee multiple workstreams, ensuring quality delivery in a changing and sometimes ambiguous environment.
  
• Lead, support and develop team members, fostering an inclusive and collaborative team culture.
  
• Represent the EDI team at governance forums, working groups and stakeholder meetings as required.
  

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge of equality- diversity and inclusion.  EDI equality legislation and the protected characteristics.  Experience of working in an EDI role with a clear understanding of the wider context.
  
• Strong organisational and planning skills with ability to manage and progress multiple pieces of work at once providing oversight to work being led by your team members and prioritising in response to changing priorities.
  
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills able to work in partnership with experience of building productive relationships.
  
• Possess excellent interpersonal written and oral communication skills with an ability to communicate clearly and succinctly and with experience of writing for formal governance.
  
• High levels of personal resilience including the ability to adapt quickly to new demands and work flexibly to deliver quality outcomes at pace and in ambiguous contexts.
  
• Excellent judgement- awareness and appropriate handling of sensitive and often contentious topics maintaining impartiality and balance.
  
• Line management experience.
  

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within government, HR, people strategy or policy environments.
  
• Experience of developing or reviewing Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs).
  
• Experience of analysing workforce data and translating findings into strategic recommendations.
  
• Experience of working with trade unions, staff networks or employee representative groups.
  
• Experience of briefing or advising Executive Committee, Director or Deputy Director-level stakeholders.
  
• Professional qualification or accreditation relevant to EDI, HR, organisational development or leadership.
  

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a ‘Further Location Preferences (optional)’ field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Office closures

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

If your location preference is for the following site, it’s important to note that this is not a long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

The site is:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
  

You will be given more information about what this means at job offer stage.

Leeds Locations

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC’s Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
  
• Delivering at Pace
  
• Leadership
  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
  
• Family friendly policies.
  
• Personal support.
  
• Coaching and development.
  

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service. 

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experiences.
  
• A 750-word Personal Statement evidencing your suitability for the role, focussing on the Person Specification and how you meet the Essential Criteria.
  
• Separate 250-word statements on the Behaviours listed - Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace and Leadership.
  

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

At full sift your CV, Personal Statement and all Behaviour statements will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours listed and Experience, where you will be required to complete a written exercise.

The exercise assesses whether candidates can turn complex, incomplete and politically sensitive information into clear advice for senior decision-makers. Candidates will have 1hr 45mins to review a briefing pack and produce a Director briefing pack of no more than 2 A4 pages. Exercise materials will be provided at start of exercise. 

It is intended to test practical Grade 7 EDI consultancy capability rather than recall of EDI theory alone.

The exercise will be invigilated via Teams where you will be expected to have your camera on and share your screen. Once completed there will be a 15 minute interval before commencing the panel led interview which will be approximately 45 minutes.

Interviews will also take place via Teams. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly.

Sponsorship

We have assessed this role against both Home Office and HMRC criteria and we are unable to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa. This means the vacancy is not open to applicants who require visa sponsorship.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account. 

Criminal Record Check 

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.  

Merit List  

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community.  Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
  

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ‘help’ section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

Important information for existing HMRC Contractual Homeworkers

This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.

Terms and Conditions

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a Civil Servant on or beyond the start date for the post. If their contract ends (for example due to the end of Fixed Term Appointment contract or resignation) at any point during the application process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process. 

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
  
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Eligibility

This vacancy is open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Julie Campbell
  
• Email : julie.campbell2@hmrc.gov.uk
  
• Telephone : 03000519318
  

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
  

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles.

 

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Black Market In Cigarettes Flourishing

 

As per Guido:

"The illegal tobacco trade is rife in Britain. This week a Romford shop was shuttered for after officers uncovered an £8,000 stash, traders in Grimsby were found with £12,500 worth of illicit stock and three stores in the North East selling illicit tobacco and illegal vapes have been closed down by Sunderland City Council. Nationally, Operation CeCe has stripped 33 million illegal cigarettes and 800kg of hand-rolling tobacco from shelves in the last year, with a street value of nearly £24 million…

Yet HMRC claims the black market is shrinking. Its latest estimates put the tobacco tax gap at just 14.2% in 2024/25, supposedly the latest step in a two-decade decline. HMRC’s own methodology admits the 2024/25 figures aren’t measured at all – they’re projections, produced because of incomplete data and resource constraints. The way HMRC defines the ‘tax gap’ is essentially an educated guess. It’s about as scientific as asking someone how many pints they have in a week…

There’s one easy way to work it out. Cancer Research UK estimates smokers got through 28 billion cigarettes in 2024, while HMRC records show only 14 billion cigarettes were cleared for legal sale in the same period. That means around 14 billion missing cigarettes and billions of pounds in Exchequer revenue going straight into the pockets of organised crime. A recent UCL study found 23.1% of smokers in 2025 had bought illicit cigarettes in the last six months, up from 12.2% in 2023. Test purchasing found 54% of independent retailers visited in Makerfield are selling illegal tobacco. If more than half the corner shops in Burnham’s own backyard are flogging illicit fags, HMRC’s estimate is up in smoke…"

This is what happens when governments overtax a product or service, people will use the black market! 

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"