HMRC's Compulsory Mass ID Scheme

Millions of British taxpayers have had their voices recorded, analysed and stored by HMRC without their consent.

According to Big Brother Watch, HMRC’s Voice ID system has collected more than five million audio signatures, which have been used to create “biometric ID cards by the back door”, the privacy group claims.

Callers are asked to repeat the phrase “my voice is my password” to register for the scheme. This is then used to confirm their identity when managing their taxes.

HMRC says the service had proved “very popular with customers”  since it was introduced last year, and has helped speed up security procedures and improve access to its digital services.

However, Big Brother Watch said taxpayers were being “railroaded into a mass ID scheme”, as they were not given the choice to opt out.

The group’s director, Silkie Carlo, described the scheme as “shady” and is quoted by The Week:

"These voice IDs could allow ordinary citizens to be identified by government agencies across other areas of their private lives”.

HMRC could also fall foul of the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force last month and requires all organisations to obtain explicit consent from users before they use biometric data, “including voice recordings”, to identify someone.

I assume someone will be reporting HMRC to the relevant regulatory authority?

Tax does have to be taxing.

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Voice ID Doesn't Recognise Northern Accents

My sources tell me HMRC's voice automated call routing can't yet cope with Northern accents ... https://t.co/7cWRv0z2dp

— Secret Ledger (@secret_ledger) January 23, 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 To Roll Out Caller Voice ID

HMRC claims that it will start rolling out Voice ID technology to some taxpayers on its phone service, in its next stage of embracing biometric technology.

Some taxpayers calling either the tax credits and Self Assessment helplines will be offered the chance to enrol in the voice identification system, which it claims will make it easier and quicker for taxpayers to pass the necessary security steps when ringing HMRC.

To enrol a caller has to repeat a vocal passphrase up to five times, before being passed to an advisor to provide the usual security information. Once this is logged, the caller can then use this phrase to identify themselves when they ring in the future.

V3 reports that to begin with HMRC will just be building a ‘bank' of customer passphrases before they actually roll the system out.

HMRC said the technology in use is "well-proven". However, it is not clear if it is using a third party or in house system.

HMRC director general for Customer Services, Ruth Owen, said:

"Millions of our customers are choosing to use our digital services rather than picking up a phone or pen, with more joining them every day. But we know that not everyone can, or wants to, deal with us online, and so we're continuing to improve our services across all contact channels.

Voice ID is the latest example of the cutting-edge technology we are using to make it easier for people to manage their tax and tax credits." 

All very well if it works, and if people can through on the phone lines!


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"