Whither Verify?

 

When HMRC recently ended its support for Verify, it came as an unwelcome surprise for thousands of taxpayers facing imminent deadlines or the urgent need to apply for rebates online, when they found themselves locked out and unable to sign in to HMRC’s services.

Services you can no longer use with GOV.UK Verify

From April 2022 the following services will use their own identity verification instead of GOV.UK Verify:

• Check your Income Tax for the current year (HMRC)
• Help friends or family with their tax (HMRC)
• Sign in and file your Self Assessment tax return (HMRC)
• Sign in to your personal tax account (HMRC)
• Apply for Universal Credit with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Check your State Pension (DWP and HMRC)
• Get your State Pension (DWP)
• View or share your driving licence information (DVLA)
• Report a medical condition that affects your driving (DVLA)
• Renew your short-term medical driving licence (DVLA)

Having been barred from the tax account they previously accessed using Verify, these users have found themselves unable to provide the documentation required to regain access to HMRC services online. 

Unfortunately, it seems that some staff at the HMRC call centre assigned to deal with such issues don’t appear to be aware of the demise of Verify and of its implications.

Bill Mew in Accounting Web issues a cri de coeur

HMRC may learn from this experience, make allowances for those that have been inconvenienced, help those more seriously impacted and ensure that this kind of thing never happens again.

Will HMRC learn?

Tax does have to be taxing.

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HMRC's Creative Tensions

In May 2016 I wrote the following about HMRC's plans to ditch Verify:

"Well now, here's a funny thing it appears that HMRC is pushing ahead with its own plans to build an online authentication portal following the decommissioning of the current Gateway portal in 2018.

This portal will be able to authenticate businesses, something the Government Digital Service's online authentication system Verify cannot do.

What is so "funny" about that I hear you ask?

Well it transpires that HMRC doesn't want the Cabinet Office to know that it's doing that."

In February this year I wrote:

"HMRC has confirmed that it will go it alone and develop its own identity assurance solution to replace Government Gateway when it ends in March 2018 – rather than using the government’s flagship GOV.UK Verify."

Well now move forward a few weeks and it transpires that HMRC will use Verify in conjunction with its own system.

Eh?

Computing explains it thus, HMRC programme director Mike Howes-Roberts published a blog post which initially stated that HMRC would not use GDS's Gov.uk Verify system, and instead develop their own solution in house.

HMRC then swiftly edited the blog post to then suggest it would continue to use Verify as the single identification service for individuals - and that the authentication service that HMRC is developing to replace the 16-year-old Government Gateway would complement the existing Verify service for business representatives.

The assumption that most onlookers made was that the Cabinet Office politely asked HMRC to amend the wording of the blog to diffuse speculation about an ongoing turf war.

It seems that this has all been just a matter of "creative tension". Ed Garcez, the chief information and digital officer (CDIO) of Camden, Haringey and Islington councils, has dubbed the ‘turf war' between HMRC and the Government Digital Service (GDS) around online identity assurance as merely a matter of ‘creative tension'.

"It's sometimes the case where you have technical professionals who work hard on a solution and put their all into it, they inevitably feel it's a great thing they've created. When there are two conflicting great things, it's people's natural tendency to try and sell the one that they've created. I don't think that's a constructive process, but it's a human process." 

I think if we can bring the learning of Verify and Government Gateway, as well as the other identity initiatives across government, together then there would be a clearer picture of what the best way forward is.

I would describe the current situation as ‘creative tension', because there is a degree of tension but I think if the tension is channelled in the right way it can be creative and can lead to a better result overall."

Well this all sounds fine then, clearly taxpayers and HMRC will end up with a system that is:

- efficient,
- economical and,
- effective!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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HMRC's Secret Online Verification System

Well now, here's a funny thing it appears that HMRC is pushing ahead with its own plans to build an online authentication portal following the decommissioning of the current Gateway portal in 2018.

This portal will be able to authenticate businesses, something the Government Digital Service's online authentication system Verify cannot do.

What is so "funny" about that I hear you ask?

Well it transpires that HMRC doesn't want the Cabinet Office to know that it's doing that.

Oops, now that it's in the public domain it will now know!

For why is it such a "secret"?

Apparently HMRC doesn't think that Verify is up to snuff; specifically it thinks it will be too slow and won't ever handle businesses. Additionally, HMRC doesn't think that Verify will be ready.

A spokesman for HMRC is quoted by The Register:

"The current Government Gateway will be replaced with a new version of the service. The replacement service will continue to support business and agent users into the future.

We know that GOV.UK Verify doesn’t work for all our customers yet. To make sure that everyone who wants to use digital services is able to, we’ve put in place a complementary service for those customers struggling to get online, which is based on Government Gateway but with an added 2-step verification process and identity check to further strengthen security.

The Government Gateway service will continue, although there will be improvements to security, design and usability delivered in a new version of Government Gateway. DWP is working with HMRC and other Government users to define the new service and when and how to achieve the move to the new version.

The replacement service will continue to support business and agent users into the future.”

Two systems, twice the cost?

This fark up doesn't appear to be HMRC's fault this time!

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"