HMRC Abandons 10 Minute ADL Answering Target

 

 

In a kick ion the teeth to tax agents, HMRC has announced that it will be abandoning its 10-minute answering target on the Agent Dedicated Line (ADL) from 2 October 2023. This means that agents can expect to wait longer to speak to an HMRC advisor.

HMRC has said that the decision to abandon the 10-minute answering target is necessary to "focus on improving the quality of service we offer". However, many agents are concerned that this will lead to even longer waiting times, particularly during busy periods.

The ADL is a dedicated telephone line for accountants and tax agents to contact HMRC. It is designed to provide agents with quick and easy access to support. However, in recent months, there have been reports of long waiting times on the ADL.

Some agents have said that they have had to wait for over an hour to speak to an HMRC advisor. This has made it difficult for them to get the support they need and to provide a good service to their clients.

The decision to abandon the 10-minute answering target is likely to make this situation worse. It is important to note that HMRC does offer a number of other ways to contact them, including online and through the post. However, many agents find that the ADL is the best way to get support for complex or urgent queries.

It is a disgrace that HMRC is abandoning its 10-minute answering target on the ADL. This is a vital service for accountants and tax agents, and it's simply not good enough that HMRC is making it more difficult for them to get support.

This decision is motivated by cost-cutting rather than a genuine desire to improve the quality of service. HMRC has been under a lot of pressure to reduce its spending in recent years, and it seems that the ADL is one of the first services to be cut.

This decision will have a negative impact on taxpayers. If accountants and tax agents are unable to get the support they need from HMRC, it will take them longer to deal with their clients' queries. This will lead to delays in tax refunds and other important services.

Tax does have to be taxing.

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A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

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The Charter Is Bollocks!

 

Remember the Taxpayers' Charter?

It seems that it means fuck all to HMRC, if the recent survey of agents is anything to go by!

HMRC has been slammed by tax agents for its poor performance in the latest annual Charter report. The report, which was published on July 18, found that HMRC scored the lowest on the charter standard of "being responsive" with an average score of 2.3 out of 10.

The report also found that HMRC scored poorly on the standards of "making things easy" and "getting things right." Only 45% of agents said they had a positive experience interacting with HMRC, down from 48% in 2021.

The low scores in the Charter report come as no surprise to many tax agents. They have long complained about HMRC's slow and inefficient customer service, as well as its complex and outdated systems.

In a statement, the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) said that the Charter report "paints a bleak picture of HMRC's customer service." The ATT called on HMRC to "take urgent action" to improve its performance.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) also expressed concern about HMRC's performance. The CIOT said that the Charter report "highlights the need for HMRC to make significant improvements to its customer service."

HMRC has responded to the criticism by saying that it is "committed to providing the best possible service to taxpayers and their agents." The agency said that it is "taking steps to improve its performance" and that it is "listening to the feedback" from taxpayers and agents.

However, it remains to be seen whether HMRC will be able to turn around its performance. HMRC has a long history of poor customer service, and it will take a significant effort to change its culture.

In the meantime, taxpayers and agents are likely to continue to experience the frustration of dealing with HMRC.

Tax does have to be taxing.

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You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

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HMRC's Half Arsed Attempt To Reopen Agent Phone Line

 

HMRC is restoring priority access to the ADL from Monday 14 June 2021 and committed to call waiting times of less than 10 minutes. However, the ADL will not handle certain types of calls where digital alternatives are available.

Following lengthy discussions with professional bodies including ICAEW, HMRC has now agreed to restore priority access to the agent dedicated line (ADL), starting on Monday 14 June, initially on a trial basis. HMRC has confirmed it is expecting to answer all calls to the ADL within 10 minutes.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty welcomes this positive development even though it falls short of restoring the pre-pandemic position and encourages members to play their part by adhering to HMRC’s guidance on the use of the line.

The removal of priority access from the ADL at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, along with delays across most HMRC services and the additional demands from clients has had a major impact on agents.

HMRC’s central role in the government’s response to COVID-19 has been resource intensive and has had implications for its day-to-day operations. HMRC acknowledges that it has not been able to provide the level of service that it would like.

How to use the line

The ADL will be open from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday. ICAEW is aware that agents have become accustomed to phoning as soon as the helpline opens as that has been the best time to get a call answered, HMRC has asked that calls be spread during the day to help it to manage demand.

To allow HMRC to provide priority access to agents it has listed the types of call that it will not accept on the ADL, because a digital service is available or the client has access to the information.

Agents are expected to use the following digital services rather than phoning the ADL:

• Progress chasing – agents should use HMRC’s Where's My Reply? tool. HMRC has recently done some work to make the tool more reliable. It currently covers PAYE and self assessment and HMRC is hoping to extend it to other taxes. Agents can contact the helpline if the expected reply date has passed.
• Report a phishing email, phone call or text.
• Report a death.   
• Obtain an SA302 (to support a mortgage application).

Agents are expected to obtain pay and tax details and employment histories from their clients and HMRC is encouraging the use of the personal tax account where clients can obtain this information. This has been HMRC’s position since 2017; over time more HMRC staff have been prepared to provide these details over the phone but HMRC will be tightening up on this.

This approach is partly driven by GDPR considerations as HMRC has some concerns over whether 64-8s allow it to disclose this information directly to agents. Where necessary HMRC will send the information to the client by post. HMRC is developing a service to give agents access to this information, along with details of tax codes.

Agent income record service

The agent income record viewer service is still in private beta testing and so is limited to a small number of agents. HMRC is now extending the service to a further 200 agents. If you would like to be part of this trial, please contact Denise Beat via hmrcirvrequest@hmrc.gov.uk.

The service involves a one-off digital handshake which needs to be completed by the client so is not suitable for all clients.

HMRC hopes to be able to extend the agent income record viewer service to all agents in the future and is also working on more streamlined agent authorisation processes.

ICAEW is pressing HMRC to address the issues with the self assessment pre-population service which is also important in addressing this need.

Other service improvements

HMRC has also indicated that it is working on the use of scanning technology to improve the processing of R40 (Claim for repayment of tax deducted from savings and investments) for PPI interest taxed at source and other high demand forms.

It is about time that HMRC reopened the ADL, but it is not great that they are doing so in a half arsed manner!

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountants (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

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HMRC's Hopeless Helpline

 

Rebecca Cave is none too impressed with HMRC's help facilities for agents.

Tax agents are finding the HMRC agent helpline is not answering their questions and the HMRC twitter account doesn’t understand basic points.

She notes that if you do get through to one of the HMRC helplines, record what was said and by whom. 

This evidence could be vital should the issue ever get as far as the tax tribunal, so record and preserve the question and the answer in a form you can access in years to come. 

Tax does have to be taxing.

Tax Investigation Insurance

Having a Solar Protect Tax Investigation Insurance policy at your disposal means that should you be one of the many 1000's of businesses or individuals that are selected by HMRC each year to look into your tax affairs your own accountant (your tax return agent) can get on and defend you robustly.

You have the peace of mind knowing that your accountant's (your tax return agent) fees will be paid by the insurance without any Excess for you to find.

Tax Investigation Insurance is an insurance policy that will fully reimburse your accountants (your tax return agent) fees up to £100,000 if you are subject to enquiry by or dispute with HMRC.

A Solar Protect policy will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to:

• Deal with any correspondence from HMRC
• Attend any meeting with HMRC
• Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or Upper Tribunal
• Having the security of knowing that fees will be met in full will enable your Accountant (your tax return agent) to defend your position robustly

Please click here for details.

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"

Sigh :(

I've just been asked by HMRC to define my capacity when phoning about a client's tax affairs. When I said accountant I was asked if I was a solicitor or an agent. I repeated accountant but eventually had to change to agent to continue the call !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— Stuart Jones (@StuartJones) December 8, 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 Releases Agent Update For August/September

HMRC have just released their Agent Update for August/September:

"Welcome to Agent Update 61. 

In this edition you can read about the International Tax Compliance (Client Notifications) Regulations, which have a deadline of 31 August 2017. 

The Pensions Regulator explains what your clients need to know about automatic enrolment and Companies House have contributed an article to help you with incorporating a company. 

The Working Together section includes the usual updates on issues and you can read about how a few simple steps can help protect your business against cyber threats. 

You can also find out about the new Making Tax Digital for Business timetable. 

We often invite agents to take part in ‘User Research’. Recently we welcomed volunteers to help define and create a new digital service for PAYE Settlement Agreements. If you would be interested in joining further areas of user testing, all you have to do is subscribe to our Agent Update email service making sure you indicate that you would be happy to receive other tax related updates. 

If you have any comments about Agent Update please contact the editor Peter Smith."

Enjoy!

Tax Advisers Face £3K Fine For Not Issuing HMRC Threat

Tax advisers have less than 30 days to avoid a £3,000 penalty from HMRC by complying with a little known new legislation imposed by HMRC.

The FT Adviser reports that a notice published in September 2016 stated financial advisers, accountants and solicitors with UK resident clients who have an account with offshore money or assets in it, should send a letter provided by HMRC to those clients.

Advisers who do not send this letter by 31 August 2017 could be subject to a £3,000 tax penalty.

The letter, which demands UK residents bring their tax affairs up to date, states “the tax world is becoming more transparent” and closes with the threat, “come to us before we come to you”.
If you’re classed as a ‘specified financial institution’ or ‘specified relevant person’ - which includes financial advisers - you may need to send the notification letter to clients who are UK tax resident.

The criteria for this are, if you’ve provided them with financial advice or services, provided them with an overseas account, referred them for an overseas account or referred them for advice or services overseas.

According to HMRC website, the covering letter must include your usual branding, your client’s name and address on set text.

If you’re a financial institution the set text must say:

“Financial institutions in more than 100 jurisdictions around the world are being legally required to find out the tax residence of their account holders and report details of their accounts, structures, trusts, and investments to be exchanged with the appropriate tax authorities.

As a UK tax resident, any overseas accounts you have will be sent to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This gives HMRC unprecedented levels of information to check that, as in most cases, the right tax has been paid.

If you have already declared all of your past and present income or gains to HMRC, including from overseas, you do not need to worry. But if you are in any doubt, HMRC recommends that you read the factsheet attached to help you decide now what to do next.”

A spokesperson for HMRC said:

"The new legislation was designed to make people aware that HMRC will soon be getting data about offshore accounts from over 100 jurisdictions; there’s a disclosure facility, and penalties and other sanctions are going to get worse so come forward now.

It’s being sent by tax advisers and financial institutions because – at the moment - they know more about who is likely to get reported to HMRC. It’s right that these industries play their part in raising awareness on automatic exchange."

Call me old fashioned, but I think it's a tad unpleasant that HMRC use others to issue threats on its behalf!

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"

The Standard For Tax Agents

Oblivious to the fact that HMRC is utter shite, HMRC has decided that its energies are best spent on telling others what it expects of them.

As such it has penned a "Standard For Agents":

"HMRC expects high standards that promote tax compliance from anyone who offers to represent or give advice to other taxpayers."

It seems that HMRC has a sense of humour.

Let us put our collective minds together and pen a standard for HMRC, I'll start the ball rolling:

Communications

• We expect HMRC to answer the phone within 30 seconds of dialling.

• We expect HMRC to respond to written correspondence within 5 working days.

• We expect HMRC to accpet and respond to emails.

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"

Security Matters

Because a work colleague read me a clients ref. no. HMRC told me I failed security. Reason = I have to know the number I can't be prompted.

— Stuart Jones (@StuartJones) June 13, 2016

Is HMRC taking the piss 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"

HMRC Spurious Tax Demands

A loyal reader has written to me concerning HMRC debt recovery.

"Some of our clients are receiving threatening letters from HMRC claiming substantial amounts of PAYE underpaid for the year ended 5 April 2016. 

In every case the end of year return has been submitted within the time limit and our records show that no tax is due. 

When we phone HMRC they agree that nothing is due, and they are unable to explain why the letter was sent or where the "debt" figure comes from. 

In every case it is a large round sum for tax and a similar amount for National Insurance, plus interest.

If the taxpayer is gullible enough to pay up the sum demanded by this letter, will this be shown as another great success story for HMRC?"

Have other readers been receiving these spurious demands, and does anyone know why HMRC have been sending them out?

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"

Tell ABAB HMRC Survey

The administrative burdens advisory board (ABAB) has released the results of its “Tell ABAB” facility which received more than 2,000 responses from business owners and accountants.

ABAB is an independent board that seeks to bring a business perspective to HMRC’s work.

AccountingWEB have summarised the results.

Once and done

Communicating with HMRC remains the biggest bugbear. However, the report identified two initiatives HMRC implemented to ameliorate the poor service levels. First, is a change of service philosophy to something HMRC is calling “The once & done project”.

“[It] has been developed to deliver process changes that allow Call Handlers to deal with more the first time around, reducing the need for you to write to HMRC, for HMRC to write to you, and for HMRC to ‘hand off’ questions between its own staff.”

HMRC will now implement a “phone first” policy, too. Phone first will allow HMRC staff members to phone you for clarification or additional information regarding the correspondence subject.

Up to 2,000 respondents also indicated a very strong desire to access other, non-traditional channels of communication.

Making Tax Digital was offered as a remedy for HMRC’s communication woes.

“It brings together access to all key online services, guidance and information providing a joined-up experience for you, giving you the ability to perform a number of transactions with HMRC in a single place.”

HMRC is apparently trialling a clutch of new digital communications, including “Web chat” for those with SA queries, a “virtual assistant” for the online services helpdesk, and a move from paper to “secure digital messaging via your digital tax account”.

Agent online self-serve

AOSS, according to HMRC, will revolutionise the way agents deal with them. The service is currently being beta tested by a select group of 1,500 accountants. But, according to the report, there’s an “intention to extend this group during the remainder of 2015/16”.

Other results

In ABAB’s survey results, respondents identified several other categories of particular strain when dealing with HMRC:

• Personalisation: “You want your tax affairs to be all in one place and for HMRC ‘departments’ to be much more joined-up. There is also a need to only receive what is relevant to you targeted to your specific business/circumstances.”
• Digital: “Those of you who are online want to do more online and have suggested ways to make specific tasks easier.”
• HMRC attitude and approach to small businesses: “You want HMRC to better understand the day to day pressures you face running your small business and to have more empathy when dealing with you.”
• Policy & legislation: “You want Government policies and legislation to be modernised and simplified, recognising the needs of small business so to encourage innovation and growth.”
• Processes & systems: “You want clearer guidance and greater consistency across specific services such as VAT, CIS.”
• Payments & refunds: “You want the mechanisms and policies for payments and refunds to work better for you and your business.”
• General admin burdens: “You want to spend less time on tax administration and to have greater consistency across different taxes to reduce the burden in running your business.”
• Working with agents: “You want agents to be able to deal with HMRC on behalf of your business more easily.”

All these initiatives sound very jolly. The question is, will they work, and will they be properly implemented?

As ever, please feel free to share your views and opinions.

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 Fesses Up To Repayment Delays

HMRC has told agents that it has identified delays in issuing repayments due under self assessment rules.

However, don't panic, for HMRC says it is working with the professional bodies ‘to establish the precise nature of the problem’.

Hoozah!

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"

No CATO

HMRC is to retire the current corporation tax (CT) online filing form and replace it with a basic online tool.

All very well and "modern" of HMRC, except that the proposed free online tool will no longer be available for agents.

The “new, improved” company tax return and company accounts filing service is called Company Accounts and Tax Online (CATO).

Accounting Web quote HMRC:

“CATO is an online service which companies will access using their own filing credentials, unlike the existing HMRC free filing software, which uses a form downloaded from the internet.”

HMRC acknowledged that agents will not be able to use CATO.

 

The Institute of Certified Practising Accountants (ICPA) is less than pleased:

“Just how will that work? 

 

What if the company pass their own filing credentials to their accountant?
Are HMRC really saying that a company’s duly appointed and trusted agent cannot be allowed access? 

Are they so angry with agents that they are spitefully excluding that small number of small practices that use the free software on behalf of their clients?

And how are they to monitor or police this? 

Will there be a fine if a company ask their accountant to help out because they are getting in a mess?”

HMRC said:

“We understand that some agents are concerned about the withdrawal of the free HMRC software and the need in future to use commercial software to file company accounts and company tax returns on behalf of clients.”

It is expected that is will cost agents around £250 to buy software that will enable them to file on their clients' behalf. 

 

HMRC adding costs to process of tax collection!

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"

Phone Fun With HMRC

Kudos to HMRC for displaying a sense of humour wrt its agent helplines.

As per AccountingWeb one particular helpline had a recorded message that had been advising callers that "the number will be changing". However, the number the message was telling the caller to phone was the one that the member had originally dialled.

ROFLOL!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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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"

Debt Query Line Opened

This week HMRC opened a new dedicated phone line for tax advisers wanting to deal with enforcement/compliance, debt management and banking issues.

The Enforcement & Compliance, Debt Management & Banking (DMB) Agent Dedicated Line contact number is 0300 200 3887.

The line is intended solely for professional advisers to get priority responses from the tax department.

It is open 8am-8pm on weekdays. Self Assessment and Tax Credit queries lines are also open 8 am to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday.

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 Launches Working With Tax Agents Blog

My thanks to Stuart Jones who pointed me in the direction of HMRC's new blog aimed at tax agents.

Stuart makes a wry observation about the picture used on the front page.

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"

Authorised Agent Warning From HMRC

HMRC have issued a warning to all and sundry (specifically agents) not to use the HMRC logo, or to state that they are "registered" or "authorised" agents of HMRC.

The full text of the warning is reproduced below:

Agents who advertise as registered or authorised agents of HMRC

Some tax agents advertise their services by using the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) logo or stating that they are 'registered' or 'authorised' agents of HMRC. This is unacceptable.

HMRC believes that this is misleading because it implies that these agents have been endorsed by HMRC. HMRC does not approve, accredit or endorse anyone.

Tax agents must register with HMRC in order to deal with the department on behalf of a client, but this is a process purely to enable agents to interact with the department.

The HMRC name and logo is protected by crown copyright. If HMRC becomes aware of misleading claims or advertising, the department will take legal action. The majority of tax agents comply with HMRC's requirements for advertising but there are firms who will continue to promote themselves in this inappropriate way.

Find out how to authorise an accountant to deal with HM Revenue & Customs for you

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"

The Joy of Staples II

My thanks to Mike Truman editor of Taxation who pointed me to the original source of the quote from HMRC about stapling forms 64-8 together.

As per CIOT:

"At a recent meeting with HMRC, the CIOT along with members of other professional bodies, established a simple solution to a problem experienced by many in relation to paper forms 64-8. As a result, HMRC have issued this message concerning the stapling together of forms relating to the same individual/partners to avoid these becoming separated before processing. This simple solution to a problem experienced by many is worth noting. HMRC update begins: 

'An agent cannot be authorised to act for a client until a record has been created for that client - and this is of particular importance for SA. If an SA1 (or CWF1 or SA 400 or SA 402) is not processed by the time the 64-8 is actioned then there will be no SA record to authorise the agent for and the 64-8 will be put away. To overcome this the SA1, CWF1, SA 400 or SA 402 should be stapled to the 64-8 when it is submitted. A single staple in the top left hand corner will be sufficient. A specialist team within Centralised Agent Authorisation Team (CAAT) deal with these forms together so that your client is registered for SA and you are set up as their agent at the same time. If the forms are not stapled they are likely to become separated and there could be a problem with the 64-8.

In general we would prefer letters submitted to HMRC were not stapled, but in this case it will help the pages stay together and so allow them to be processed together, speeding up the process for you and your clients.'
Technical Team
30 August 2013"

However, my thanks to another loyal reader who pointed me to this where HMRC state:

"Send the registration forms - and any agent authorisation forms 64-8 - to HMRC at the following address. Please do not attach covering letters or staple items together as this will slow down the registration process."

Hmmm..all a tad confusing!
 
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"

The Joy of Staples

My thanks to a loyal reader who alerted me to an article in Taxation magazine, that notes that HMRC have issued a directive concerning the stapling of the two page 64-8 requests that deal with authorising agents.

The directive, according to Taxation, notes that "..a single staple in the top left hand corner will be sufficient...If the forms are not stapled they are likely to become separated and there could be a problem with the 64-8..."

Oddly enough, HMRC generally prefer correspondence not to be stapled.

Does anyone have a link to the relevant page on the HMRC site where is advice is given please?

Thanks.



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"