My thanks to a loyal reader who made an effort, via and FOI request, to try to get to the bottom of the "BMW Debate" that has been raging on this site a for a while now.
He has forwarded me the answer from HMRC (see above).
I will leave him to comment as to what his next steps may, or may not be.
Again though, thanks for doing this!
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"
Thank you Ken.
ReplyDeleteI have requested an internal review of the reply from HMRC. I have asked for more detail regarding make of vehicles and conditions of use as a matter of public interest.
HMRC have acknowledged receipt of my request and promised a response by 27th of February.
I will update you when I hear anything.
Thanks
DeleteGreat work, thank you. HMRC's reply is, frankly, disgusting and they're breaking the law by not complying with the FoI request.
DeleteAnd if HMRC were to get serious about compromising operational use of vehicles, they would forthwith stop the appalling practice of allowing HMRC employees to take official vehicles homes home - and, indeed, the blind eye seemingly turned to private use.
It's disgraceful
Great content. My thanks to the person who submitted this very precise FOI and to Ken for publishing it.
ReplyDeleteBMW is one of the "12" manufacturers used by HMRC. It's going to be interesting to see what the other 11 are and whether private use is permitted (or not). That's assuming HMRC don't continue to frustrate a reasonable FOI that is in the public interest.
Tom Cruise drove a BMW in Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
ReplyDeleteIf it's good enough for Tom Cruise it's good enough for Field Force when they're knocking the doorbell of Bingo Betty for her £80.
James Bond had one in Tomorrow Never Dies..
HMRC is Tomorrow we'll Never Answer The Phone....
🤣🤣🤣 Looking forward to these scumbags providing the FOI information the public are entitled to have. They must be defeated on this one
DeleteI'd like a Ferrari from HMRC. Is it worth giving up my accountancy career and taking a job as a field tax collector with HMRC? 😉
ReplyDeleteIf you lack morals, HMRC is the place to be - - go for it!!! LOL
DeleteAnother HMRC Tool that's a total dogpile. We'll be paying through the beak for the fix and replacement. Apologies all round. Heads I win Tails you lose.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/pensions/state-pensions/state-pension-forecasts-can-be-wrong-hmrc-admits/
I fear HMRC will not back down from their unreasonable blocking of the foi request.
ReplyDeleteThis is a case for the ICO to get stuck into.
Curious to hear what HMRC respond with on this matter. Nobody is asking for precise details (reg plates, whereabouts etc) but we are entitled to know what cars our tax money is used to fund.
ReplyDeleteWe've been enjoying the 'HMRC BMW scandal' in our office but have noticed it's gone very quiet.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the original contributor was correct: HMRC have given mobile staff BMWs!!! You couldn't make it up.
Anyone have any updates?
Hmrc are laughing at us. I've had the heating switched off over winter to pay my self assessment tax bill, while these fucking leeches get treated to luxuries far in excess of what's needed to do the their little jobs. BMW, Mercedes...🙄 Does Rachel Reeves even know about what's going on inside HMRC!!!!? Maybe she'll announce investigations into them during the Spring Statement today..
DeleteIt seems like luxury cars are for layabouts and scroungers nowadays. Bmw cars et al for HMRC staff, BMW cars et al for the Mobility Scheme.
DeleteAll paid for by everyday taxpayers who get no benefits at all
@17:39
DeleteYour point about luxury cars is valid. Take exception to all staff being called layabouts or scroungers. I served in the department across three decades and worked hard for quite low pay. I was out on the road regularly - towns and cities, villages and farms. Alas, we didn't have BMs in those days. It was all budget -Peugeots, Fiestas, Astras. The fact that senior managers saw fit to authorise luxury cars for staff, especially during a so-called cost of living crisis, or greedflation, illustrates just how far they've fallen into the moral abyss.
Yesterday I asked HMRC why I hadn't received a reply to my request for an internal review of the initial response to my FoI question.
ReplyDeleteHMRC have replied that they were unable to meet the 20 working days deadline due to the complexity of putting a full reply together. They have said that they should be able to reply "shortly".
On the plus side this would indicate that they are at least taking the matter seriously.
I will update as and when.
As one of those who have followed the BMW scandal keenly since it came to light, I'm very grateful for the update.
DeleteIt's a shame they haven't worked to expedite a full reply (and to provide the information the public are entitled to). Agree that it's positive that they at least seem to be taking the matter seriously now.
Thanks for your work on this.
Any updates on the HMRC BMW/luxury car disgrace? HMRC must be laughing at the person who made the FOI as their rights are being totally violated
ReplyDeleteMy request for an internal review of the reply to my FoI question was received by HMRC on 30th January. Where a review involves complex research it is generally regarded that 40 working days is the upper limit for a reply.
DeleteThat would take us up the 27th March.
As yet my rights are not being violated.
Today marks 40 working days since HMRC acknowledged receipt of my request for an internal review of their response to my FOI submission.
ReplyDeleteI have emailed them for an urgent update on what is happening.
I will let you know their response.
Thank you for the update.
DeleteWonder what they are covering up?
@14:25.
DeleteGlad to see that you're keeping an open mind.
They don't want the public knowing that tax collectors are driving around in BMWs and other luxury cars which are paid for by taxpayers. It's definitely wrong on so many different levels. But the cover up is probably as simple as that. No conspiracy theories needed: this is routine, casual corruption
Delete@07:26 That's exactly what's going on here. They're abusing the FOI process. The ICO need to be involved. HMRC will not back down on this - they will simply do anything to make sure the public don't find out how their money is wasted
Delete