HMRC's Property Plans Are Shite - It's Official

The Public Accounts Committee has poured scorn on HMRC's "plans" to save more than £500m by condensing its sprawling office estate into just a handful of giant hubs.

PAC doesn't think that the 10-year scheme to reduce HMRC’s 170 offices to 13 regional bases in city centres, along with four specialist centres and a London headquarters will deliver the expected economies.

PAC also noted that closing down offices would damage local economies, with some offices being major employers in the areas.

The Telegraph quoted PAC:

"HMRC has yet to demonstrate it has a realistic and affordable plan to deliver such a radical change to its estate, and we do not believe that it needs to be based in expensive cities across the UK”.

In other words the plans, if they exist, are shite!

PAC, for good measure, also warned about the effects on staff:

“It already experiences too high a level of staff turnover with 5,000 to 6,000 staff leaving a year and it will take time to recruit and train staff in new regional centres.”

HMRC said that it will "consider" the report.

Snort!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Attack of The Zombie MTD

#MTD law shelved in wash-up https://t.co/AOOLIncS0M
But it is likely to rise again like a zombie post #GeneralElection2017

— Rebecca Cave (@TaxwriterLtd) April 25, 2017

"Washed up" or not, MTD will return!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Raids Newcastle United and West Ham

The Telegraph reports that Newcastle United's St James' Park and West Ham's London Stadium have been raided by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs following an investigation into the clubs' transfer activity.

Newcastle's managing director Lee Charnley is among those to have been arrested following the raids.

HMRC say they have arrested "several men working within professional football industry for suspected of income tax and national insurance fraud", though there have been no arrests at West Ham.

Action has been taken as tax officers further investigate transfers dating back as far as seven years at both clubs.

The officials have demanded details of every transfer deal undertaken by the clubs over that period including seizing computers and business and financial records. Mobile phones have also been confiscated.

They are examining the deals and the fees paid to players and agents following the transfers in an investigation that is understood to have originated in France.

HMRC confirmed that 180 officers took park in the raids in the UK and France with a number of premises in the north east and south east of England being searched. The arrests are connected to a suspected income tax and National Insurance fraud.

The irony is that the West Ham stadium is publicly funded and Baroness Brady (Karen Brady of The Apprentice) runs West Ham

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

£10M Cumulative HMRC Bonuses Rewarding Failure

The Sun reports that bonus payouts to HM Revenue and Customs have hit a four-year-high

Former CEO Dame Lin Homer picked up the maximum bonus of £17,500 in each of the last two years on top of her annual salary package of £185,000.

Additionally, 80 of the most highly-paid civil servants were also handed lump sums of between £9,500 and £17,500.

The four year cumulative bonuses total £10M, bonuses in 2016 totalled £2.5M (the highest since 2012).

A reward for failure!

What say you loyal readers?

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Making Tax Digital Dropped From Finance Bill

Making Tax Digital dropped from Finance Bill. Sensible move from @hmtreasury and great campaigning by @fsb_policy @CIOTNews and @ICAEW

— James Calder (@jmcalder101) April 25, 2017

Rest assured it will come back!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Election Purdah Cancels MTD Hearing

The Treasury Select Committee has cancelled the two evidence sessions it had scheduled for this week, one on Making Tax Digital and the other with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, due to the upcoming general election.

As per CCH Daily:

On 25 April HMRC senior executives, Theresa Middleton and Jim Harra, were due to appear before the committee to explore developments with Making Tax Digital, while on the 26 April the committee was going to take evidence from Philip Hammond.

Due to the upcoming election both meeting have now been cancelled, with no information on if/when they will be rescheduled.


Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC New and Interim Director General Appointments

My thanks to a loyal reader who sent me a wee note wrt the following that was announced within HMRC last week:

"Karen Wheeler has been appointed as Director General for Border Coordination, a new post in HMRC.

The new role will oversee the cross-government approach to coordinating work at the border, bringing together the work of 18 departments across policy, strategy, operational delivery, IT, infrastructure, legislation and security.

Karen joins HMRC from NHS England and has previously worked in the Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Office and as a management consultant in the private sector.

Also today, Chief Executive Jon Thompson confirmed Rachel McLean as interim Director General for Customer Services and David Richardson as interim Director General for Customer Compliance.

This follows the recent announcement that Ruth Owen and Jennie Granger will be leaving HMRC in May.

Rachel is Director of Finance and Planning in Customer Services. She joined HMRC in 2015, and before that was a director at Transport for London.

David is Director of Counter-Avoidance. He joined the Inland Revenue as a trainee inspector in 1979 and has been a director at HMRC since it was formed in 2005 in a wide range of compliance and policy roles.

Rachel and David will be in post until permanent appointments are made following a fair and open competition for the Director General roles."

All of this in spite of the fact that there is a general election and, as such, senior appointments surely ought to be kept in abeyance until a new government is formed.

#HMRC other #gov departments are now in #purdah so no news (unless absolutely essential) until after the #election. https://t.co/j72qlvBuKP

— Julia Penny (@JSPenny) April 24, 2017

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Breaches Charter and Blocks Agents

Here is an extract from the Taxpayers' Charter (remember that?):

“We’ll respect your wish to have someone else deal with us on your behalf, such as an accountant or a relative. To protect your privacy, we’ll only deal with them if they have been authorised to represent you, and we’ll deal with them courteously and professionally.”

All clear and straightforward, yes?

Unfortunately no longer, for you see HMRC is changing the rules of engagement.

AccountingWeb reports, as from 1 May agents who ring HMRC to ask for the pay and tax details of a client will no longer be given that information, even if they are authorised to act. HMRC will instead send the information in a letter to the taxpayer, at his last known address, but they won’t send a copy of this letter to the agent.

HMRC says this change is to reduce call handling costs and to increase security for taxpayers.

All very fine and dandy, except that it breaches the Charter and is clearly designed to stop agents acting on behalf of their clients.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Ignorance About NIC On Display

My thanks to a loyal twitter chum and reader for drawing this to my attention:

OMG!! @HMRCgovuk
What did the writer think "NIC" stood for?
Demonstrates level of tax knowledge within #HMRC
One for @ken_frost https://t.co/bCJ8lK7193

— Rebecca Cave (@TaxwriterLtd) April 18, 2017

Please feel free to comment!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Software Not Up To The Job

As this recent article in the FT shows, HMRC software simply isn't up to the job:

"Software glitches are putting thousands of people at risk of paying hundreds of pounds too much tax next year, as programmers struggle to cope with an increasingly complex tax system. 

Experts blamed the “horrendously complex” changes to the taxation of dividends and savings income for errors in the tax computation software for the 2016-17 tax year which ended on Wednesday. They said the problems were caused by the interaction of the new tax-free allowances for dividends and savings and the zero per cent savings rate band. 

HM Revenue & Customs will provide a fix for 2017-18 tax returns but in the meantime those affected are asked to file paper returns. 

Giles Mooney of Absolute Accounting Software, a software provider, said the “insanely complicated set of rules” were to blame for the inability of the HMRC coders to solve the problem before the end of the tax year. 

 Caroline Miskin of the ICAEW, the professional institute, said the problems affected a “quite small” number of people but followed similar problems affecting HMRC’s online filing systems. “They seem to struggle to implement software changes necessary to reflect changes in law.” 

What hope is there for Making Tax Digital on time, on budget and fully functioning?

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Treasury Says No To Expert Advice

UK Treasury rejects call for tax expert input in #financebill debates https://t.co/zz4iRHP4DP

— Andrew Goodall (@agoodall4) April 13, 2017

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the reasons as to why the tax system is such a clusterfuck!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Lin Homer Appointed To ICAS Council

As per CCH Daily:

Ex-HMRC chief Lin Homer appointed to ICAS Council

Dame Lin Homer, who left her position as head of HMRC a year ago, is to join the ICAS council as a public interest member for a four-year term, the Scottish institute has announced

12 Apr 2017

Pat Sweet

Reporter, CCH Daily and Accountancy

View profile and articles.

Public interest members serve as full members of the council and have equal voting rights with the CA members. In addition to serving on council from 28 April, Homer will sit on some of the other council committees, and ICAS operational boards.  

Homer, who succeeds Judith Sischy, will be joining incumbent public interest members, Robert Black and Rhona Brankin; and Colin McClatchie who was appointed on 1 January 2017.

A qualified lawyer with many years’ experience as a chief executive in local and central government, Homer was chief executive of HMRC from 2012-2016, where she oversaw the tax authority’s digital transformation strategy.

Since leaving the tax authority, Homer has taken up an unpaid role on the governing body of the University of Birmingham, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2013, and now the position with ICAS.

Homer said: ‘My role is to ensure that ICAS fulfils its public interest responsibilities as set out in its Royal Charter.

‘I will strive to ensure that the public interest remains at the heart of ICAS’ activities.

‘During my time with HMRC I worked closely with all the accountancy bodies, including ICAS, and I look forward to working with members again to uphold the Institutes’ standards and values.’

ICAS chief executive, Anton Colella, said: ‘Dame Lin’s clear understanding and commitment to the safeguarding of the public interest will ensure that the interests of members and the public are kept at the forefront of our strategy and operations.

‘We look forward to Dame Lin’s contribution on council. Her perspective, skills and experience will be of great value.’

Homer was made a Dame in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List. Her stint leading the tax authority was controversial and attracted heavy criticism, particularly over its effectiveness in its attempts to curb tax avoidance.

She was called before the Public Accounts Committee on a regular basis, not only to defend HMRC but also to explain some of the more questionable tax arrangements made with companies, global profit shifting and the Swiss private accounts leaks. 

Upon her departure from HMRC, Homer received a £2.4m pension pot following years working in the Civil Service, including spells with the Home Office and the Department of Transport."

I'll just leave this here.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

What's The "Right" Rate of Tax?

What is the right rate for taxing income and consumption of luxuries? I would welcome your thoughts and comments. pic.twitter.com/XwFTOycGTc

— John Redwood (@johnredwood) April 11, 2017

How long is a piece of string?

Not an easy question to answer.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Recruiting CDIO

HMRC is in the process of recruiting a new chief digital information officer (CDIO) at director general level, following Mark Dearnley’s departure in autumn 2016.

The advert states that the role, which theoretically will make HMRC one of the “most digitally advanced tax administrations anywhere in the world”, pays up to £180K per annum.

"HMRC is looking to recruit a new Director General (DG) Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO). This is a substantial and challenging role with significant involvement in the Government’s digital agenda as well as leading on HMRC’s digital strategy. The CDIO will shape and transform the way HMRC work - developing the capability to provide better online services to the taxpayer and customer to achieve faster and more effective models of delivery at optimal cost. The role requires the ability to engage and lead people as well as position HMRC in the cross government agenda playing a full role across Whitehall and supporting smaller government departments. The CDIO will lead the 2200 people strong department and manage an expenditure of more than £800million.

The candidate for the role will bring a proven track record of successfully leading a large-scale IT division with extensive experience and professional capabilities, including high level digital strategy expertise gained from a multi-channel business. S/he will possess Board level leadership experience of driving an extensive and challenging change programme across large, complex and multi-functional private or public sector organisations. S/he will be a successful manager of complex multi-location teams and be able to work within a rapidly evolving environment. S/he will have proven ability to challenge, influence and debate as is befitting of a Director-General level role. Experience likely to be drawn from a previous CIO role (or equivalent) in similar large, complex and multidimensional organisation."

Good luck to those who apply!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Rats Leave The Sinking Ship

Jennie Granger, HMRC’s director general for customer compliance, is to leave HMRC to rebalance her life. As per CCH Daily:

"Now that the customer compliance group is firmly established it feels like the right moment to hand over to a new leader. It’s also time for a little bit of rebalancing for me personally."

This bodes badly for MTD:

@taxbod @ken_frost @accountancylive she's the architect of MTD it's all she was brought in for. Oops

— Sue Christensen (@taxqueen49) April 5, 2017

Oh and by the way, it seems that Ian Barlow (chair of HMRC and lover of candy) has also gone!

@cscth @JV8P @taxqueen49 @ken_frost @accountancylive Yep. The new Private Eye refers. He quietly went just before the latest Candy Bros. case started in the High Court.

— Andrew Brooks (@taxbod) April 5, 2017

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Promises "Gold Command" For Tax Credits

Jon Thompson's Gold Command Uniform

HMRC has promised to address failings that led to thousands of benefit recipients having their tax credits withdrawn.

In a letter to the Work and Pensions select committee HMRC chief executive Jon Thompson promised to make a number of changes, including: reviewing and revising all letters; prompting customers to respond to HMRC enquiries; making it easier for taxpayers to engage with HMRC; and the rapid reinstatement of payments.

Quoted by the FT:

"One of the key learning points I reported to the Committee in October was that critical performance issues were not escalated to the right levels quickly.

To ensure this does not happen again, the 2017 HRR process will be governed through a ‘Gold Command’ structure alongside the broader Renewals programme, to monitor performance closely and ensure issues are escalated in real time.

I believe we have listened to the comments of our customers and stakeholders and addressed the core issues, whilst continuing to fulfil our responsibilities to reduce error and fraud in the welfare system."

What the fark is a "Gold Command" structure I hear you ask?

A gold–silver–bronze command structure is used by emergency services of the United Kingdom to establish a hierarchical framework for the command and control of major incidents and disasters.

'Nuff said!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

Ruth Owen To Leave HMRC

My thanks to a loyal reader who dropped me this HMRC announcement about Ruth Owen:

"HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, Ruth Owen, is to leave the Civil Service in May.

Ruth joined the Civil Service 27 years ago, starting in a local Social Security office. After a career in operational delivery, project delivery and strategy she joined HMRC to lead Personal Tax in 2012, before becoming our first Director General for Customer Services last year.

We’ll be able to share more details on Ruth's future plans in the next few weeks.

Ruth said: “I have loved my time in HMRC and I leave feeling immensely proud of what we have achieved. The last five years have seen some significant changes in the service we provide to our customers, the way we think about our customers as well as how we do business and how we work together. I know I will greatly miss so many fantastic people and teams, who I’ve been privileged to work with over the last five years. All our achievements are down to the passion, commitment and hard work of Team HMRC and our shared desire to make a difference.

“It has been a difficult decision to leave. We are now embarking on an exciting new phase of Building our Future, aiming to be the best customer service organisation in the UK, and offering world-class digital services, which our customers really rate. But I have a one-off opportunity to try a different career in the private sector that will offer me new challenges and the opportunity to develop a new set of skills.

“I have particularly enjoyed working under both Lin and Jon’s leadership. I feel really optimistic and confident in HMRC’s future and wish Jon and my ExCom colleagues well in steering the department towards our vision.”

Jon Thompson, Chief Executive, said: “Ruth will be hard to replace; her energy and dedication to brilliant customer services is an inspiration. Ruth’s experience and insight will be missed around the ExCom table and her drive for ever greater performance will be missed in Customer Services, but I wish her well as she embarks on a new career in the private sector.”

We’ll shortly announce who will lead Customer Services Group in the interim, and HMRC will begin an open competition for a new Director General very shortly."

Leaving to join the private sector, anyone know where?

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"

HMRC Stymied By Brexit

HMRC told the Treasury select committee last week that it estimates that the number of customs declarations at Dover and elsewhere could rise from 60m a year to 300m a year after the UK leaves the EU.

HMRC also admitted it is no longer sure that it can deliver on time a new customs declaration system for all lorries coming in and out of the ports.

Andrew Tyrie, the Treasury select committee chairman, quoted by the Guardian noted that the delivery of CDS was “in doubt”, with HMRC’s internal project management rating placing it in a “major risk” category. He warned that the “consequences of this project failing, or even being delayed, could be serious” and “much trade could be lost”.

Ah well, I dare say MTD will go smoothly!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Tax Investigation Insurance.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is Solar Tax Investigation Insurance?

Solar Tax Investigation Insurance is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Solar Tax Investigation Insurance



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"