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HMRC have again stressed the achievements of their alternative dispute resolution scheme, which received more than 400 applications during it lengthy pilot phase.
ADR is set for a full launch later this year. Its trial ran between early 2011 until December 2012 to be used by small and medium-sized enterprises and individual taxpayers as another way of settling tax disagreements with the Revenue.
HMRC have again stressed the achievements of their alternative dispute resolution scheme, which received more than 400 applications during it lengthy pilot phase.
ADR is set for a full launch later this year. Its trial ran between early 2011 until December 2012 to be used by small and medium-sized enterprises and individual taxpayers as another way of settling tax disagreements with the Revenue.
The initiative was hailed by the department in February as a success, and it has been followed by a summary evaluation report. The document shows that two-thirds of applications accepted were fully or partially resolved, with 29% of the unresolved cases being due to the agent or taxpayer believing the tribunal route would be more appropriate or because of “other overriding factors”.
Feedback from taxpayers and agents demonstrated an appreciation for the personal interaction that ADR gave them, and said HMRC facilitators were impartial and even-handed, says the report, which recommendeds that ADR retain an identity that is “distinct and separate” from the taxman’s compliance teams, to help demonstrate to taxpayers and caseworkers the independence and objectivity of the service.
