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HMRC have published the latest issue of Agent Update, the bi-monthly roundup of news for tax advisers, part of which is summarised here.
Open issues
There are 28 open issues on the register which vary in age and priority. They include:
HMRC have published the latest issue of Agent Update, the bi-monthly roundup of news for tax advisers, part of which is summarised here.
Open issues
There are 28 open issues on the register which vary in age and priority. They include:
- the inadequacy of CT helpline - working together continues to monitor this helpline and reports that all targets are currently being met;
- P30BC (payslip booklet) - the PAYE reference is not in correct format for real time information - this is currently being investigated; and
- a fault with the statutory sick pay calculator on the GOV.UK website which in certain circumstances gives the wrong result is under review.
Closed issue
A previously closed issue relating to SA302 forms for mortgage income verification purposes is currently under review as a result of misunderstandings, mainly on the part of mortgage lenders who are asking clients for paper copies of the SA302 tax calculations even where the client has filed their return online.
HMRC are in contact with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the basis and the impact of this requirement on HMRC and taxpayers. In the meantime, HMRC will continue to provide paper copies.
Joint initiative on HMRC service delivery
The update contains highlights of improvements for agents and their clients made as a result of the initiative, including the following.
In November 2013, HMRC introduced an intelligent telephony automation system using speech recognition, allowing taxpayers to say why they are calling instead of making keypad selections. This is being used on the PAYE, SA, VAT, tax credits, National Insurance, employer helplines and payment enquiry line. The system means that for most taxpayers, the adviser knows who the taxpayer is and why they are calling before they answer the call so they are ready to answer their questions.
Partnership returns – cease dates: HMRC are exploring a longer term IT fix to prevent a return being issued when the department has already been notified of a cessation date. As this will be subject to IT and funding considerations, the earliest possible implementation is April 2015. In the meantime where a 2012/13 partnership return had an entry to confirm the partnership had ceased, a manual return signal has been set on the record to prevent a return being automatically issued. The record will then be closed. A similar exercise will be repeated for the 2013/14 return.
