The public accounts committee has concluded, as we all have, that HMRC would struggle to deal with the pressure of Brexit and its own internal changes. Additionally, PAC are "far from confident" that HMRC can deal with the tax avoidance allegations made in the wake of the Paradise Paper leaks.
HMRC believes Brexit alone could add 15% to its workload, the report said.
HMRC is undertaking 15 major transformation projects, according to the MPs' report, involving the closure of offices around the country, relocating staff to 13 regional centres and and making tax returns digital.
The public accounts committee said that was now "not deliverable" as originally envisaged because of pressure on HMRC.
PAC quoted HMRC itself saying it was "not credible" to continue with its transformation programme as it is. It said HMRC had to "be clear about what it will do differently... and what the impact will be on customer service".
"What was already a precarious high-wire act is now being battered by the winds of Brexit, with potentially catastrophic consequences.A spokesman for HMRC said they were "fully focused on making the UK's exit from the EU a success" and was on track to be able to deal with "a significant increase in customs declarations at the border" by January 2019.
Action arising from allegations in the so-called Paradise Papers could also significantly increase the authority's workload.
HMRC accepts something has to give and it now faces difficult decisions on how best to use its limited resources - decisions that must give full consideration to the needs of all taxpayers."
No worries then!
Tax does have to be taxing.
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Transformation? More akin to transmutation!
ReplyDeleteThe inability of all parties to see this steaming over the horizon at a high rate of knots sums up the whole sad state of affairs within those involved, HMG and HMRC.
The once highly regarded constituent parts of HMRC plus the disaster that is border farce had better get their respective acts together and quickly if the public purse is not to suffer. Rest assurred that the world's organised crime enterprises, or whatever they are referred to this month will have been planning for some time to take advantage of the looming clusterfuck related to border and internal UK 'control' of goods. Seriously, if you thought it was bad before, you ain't seen nothing yet! Border farce looking to Dad's Army for uncanalised 'policing' of ports and airfields let alone the coast. What will HMRC do, open another 'Freephone Customs' system? " Please ring, text, e.mail, twitter, post a message for us, we will get back to you withing service level agreement timing...
YCNMTSU
HMRC's response is complete bunkum, they have already cut so many staff that they cant possibly cope with the extra demands put on it with Brexit, we don't even know what sort we are getting to get. They are already rearranging the deckchairs and the Brexit iceberg isn't even in view yet. Then TOF, whats the betting another Carillion is around the corner. Believe me the motherlode of clusterfucks is coming, watch the morons who have engineered this flee in their droves.
ReplyDeleteI work in the HMRC...it is so understaffed now that quantity is now king...quality is totally out the window
ReplyDeleteSad state of affairs. Knowing people who work there, I can sympathise.
DeleteStaff morale seems rock bottom, and quality went out of the window a long time ago. With the closure of enquiry offices, and the push to digital, you'll be hard pressed to see someone 'face to face', unless willing to travel hundreds of miles to one of their proposed 15 offices.
HMRC has barely been fit for purpose since day 1. The old 'Inland Revenue' and 'Customs & Excise' were largely respected institutions, but the merger killed that off.
ReplyDeleteAnd cutting staff and relocating to just 15 areas is irresponsible, as has been revealed by PAC's. Knowing people that work there, I can only say morale is rock bottom, as their own internal surveys report.
The latest response is typical of their attitude. Carry on as usual, and hope the implications of Brexit don't impact them too much.
I think if they're relying on the goodwill of their long suffering staff, they'll be sadly let down.
In the section i work in of over 200 staff, in HMRC, the age of staff is such that many will leave the department and retire before being relocated to one of the regional centers. It could be as many as 1 in 5 all with many years of specialist experience many running into 30 to 40+ years. HMRC plan to backfill these posts on the cheap with graduates. They will stay to get trained at the tax payers expense then leave to get better paid positions elsewhere. The place is a monumental clusterfuck.
ReplyDelete100%.....in my HMRC office (God how i wish it was the old Inland Revenue)...the management are,as i speak, running around like headless chickens....everything now is CRISIS MISMANAGEMENT....quality is dead...we are so understaffed that quantity is KING...it is truly awful....I warn you now taxpayers...or should i say customers...wait for your incorrect codes...your overpayments etc....this place is a fucking disgrace...experience has gone...they are recruiting the young ones who quickly see how rotten he place is and move on.
DeleteA once decent place to work in is now a horrible cesspit....but the scum at the top still get their honours...fuck them....cunts !!!!
Anonymous 17 January 2018 at 16:07 has a very good point with one exception. The Regional Centres are secure sites and the general public will never be able to anyone face to face. In a different track. In light of the Carillion collapse. Civil Service Wourld publication reports the owners of some HMRC sites Interserve is also on a Government Watch list for PPI partners who have encountered profit warnings. Interserve run the North East Regional Centre and nearby transitional site. Talk about poor planning and eggs in one basket. Large salaries are paid to properly plan for the future not adopt the wait and see approach. Hopefully the doors will be chained shut on these sites and common sense will prevail. But unlikely in HMRCs vision if a swivvel eyed loon vision of the future.
ReplyDelete