.png)
.png)
HMRC are testing a scheme to ‘understand how email could be used more effectively’.
In response to requests from taxpayers, the Revenue is offering to communicate electronically while it assesses how the medium could improve tax services and the taxpayer experience.
The pilot covers corporation tax, VAT, and employer-compliance issues with taxpayers who have a customer relationship manager or a customer co-ordinator.
HMRC say they see email ‘as an alternative channel of communication’ and there is no intention of making use obligatory for taxpayers, who are free to opt out at any time. They are asked to tell the Revenue in their consent message about any restrictions as to with whom the department should exchange emails.
Information about the test scheme includes the sentiment that taxman hopes to ‘conduct most of business with you, and/or your agent if appropriate, electronically’. It adds the caveat that sometimes the tax authorities will have to use paper communications ‘for legal reasons’.
Baker Tilly’s Mike Down welcomed the email pilot, saying it was what many businesses wanted, but he was concerned that tax advisers had not been copied in on the letter inviting taxpayers to use email.
