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HMRC have announced the winners of the department’s transparency awards, intended to recognise the contribution that businesses, tax professionals and voluntary communities make to the running of the tax system.
The victors, who were presented with the prizes yesterday by David Gauke, the Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, a ceremony at 11 Downing Street, were:
- John Andrews of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, for championing the cause of the unrepresented taxpayer and making a positive impact on UK tax administration.
- Teresa Graham, chair of the Administrative Burden Advisory Board, for making her organisation an example of best practice where the Government has engaged with business to identify ways to reduce administrative burdens.
- Julie Hughff, a tax partner at KPMG, for persuading clients of the benefits of good relationships between business and tax administrations, the early clarification of key business issues, and for her open-minded approach to the resolution of technical issues.
- Peter van Dijk, senior vice president, taxation, at TD Bank Financial Group, for his commitment to bringing clarity to guidance on tax rules in the financial sector, and for his work to convince business and tax administrations that positive engagement is valuable.
The winners were selected on the criteria of commitment, customer focus and clarity, by a panel of judges from within HMRC and external organisations.
They included Taxation editor Mike Truman, Grant Thornton’s head of tax, Francesca Lagerberg, and Dave Hartnett, the Revenue’s permanent secretary for tax, who said, ‘Making the tax system simple and transparent is of vital importance’.
He added: ‘HMRC have to recognise that we cannot do this alone; many individuals and organisations in the tax profession and voluntary community help us achieve this.’
