Improved HMRC performance will boost tax system, ATT tells new XST
The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) has told the new Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury it is “essential” that the tax system is administered effectively.
Dan Tomlinson MP took up the role this week, replacing James Murray, who has been promoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
In a letter, the ATT raised a number of areas of improvement that Tomlinson should target, including HMRC customer service and performance. The Association has previously spoken out about the impact poor service levels have on taxpayers and their advisers, and says advances in technology should not be used to “mask complexity”.
ATT President Graham Batty wrote:
“Congratulations on your appointment as Exchequer Secretary. We appreciate you will have a full in-tray, including the delivery of Making Tax Digital (MTD), modernising HMRC, improving service levels and planning for the forthcoming Budget.
“However, whilst media and political debate is, understandably, focused on potential changes to rates and reliefs at the Budget, it is essential to ensure that the tax system is also administered effectively.
“We are keen to work with you to support HMRC’s management of its workload. Our members would be keen to do more online with HMRC, but there are significant gaps in HMRC’s digital services and even where services do exist, agents do not always have access to the full range of digital services available to taxpayers.
“We therefore welcomed the publication of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap earlier this year. However, we remain concerned that, beyond some short term timings, the roadmap has no clear delivery timescale. There is also a risk that HMRC could use digital services to mask complexity.”
The letter also called for clarity over long term aims for regulation of the tax profession, and the outcome of a HM Treasury consultation on anti-money laundering regulations.
Read the full letter.