CIOT survey gets to grips with SA filing

The Chartered Institute of Taxation is working with HMRC to help form a better understanding of how self-assessment (SA) returns are filed by tax advisers.

The professional body is hosting an all-agent survey on behalf of the taxman and the Working Together bodies to learn about how clients’ income tax returns are submitted. The CIOT also wishes to find out about the barriers to SA work encountered during the filing period.

The study is as a result of the Revenue’s aim to save money by encouraging and facilitating online filing as an alternative to more costly paper submissions. The department would also like to receive returns evenly over the year, to avoid the additional administration costs incurred by filing peaks.
 
The questions are estimated to take between five and ten minutes to complete. They cover all forms of income tax, including individual, partnerships and trusts.

Users may answer on behalf for their firms or departments, or in reference to the returns they file personally. Responses are anonymous, and results are expected to be used by HMRC to explore ways they can make online filing easier and more manageable for agents.

The Revenue is not expected to carry out all the suggested changes and enhancements, but the CIOT said that feedback will help to flag the key issues and possibly highlight simple measures that could make a difference.

The institute will be happy to receive additional points and ideas by email.
 

Issue: 4282 / Categories: News , Admin , Income Tax