Agent Update 43

Issue 43 of Agent Update, HMRC’s bi-monthly roundup of news for tax advisers, is now available.

It includes a list of 16 open issues being pursued by the Working Together team. It also outlines matters that have been closed, some of which are summarised below:

• Corporation tax – online registration service: there are no plans to update the service to bring agents into scope.
• Problem with statutory sickness pay calculator: the relevant page on GOV.UK was updated in June, and the calculator should now give the correct result.
• Agent relationships with the HMRC debt management and banking (DMB) team: DMB strategy is to contact taxpayers first. In the longer term, the DMB is working with other parts of HMRC to give agents greater access to their clients’ information as part of the department’s digital strategy. Internal communications are now underpinned by weekly telephone conferences between heads of duty and monthly face-to-face meetings. Enhanced contact for agents has been provided by the introduction of the DMB agent dedicated phone line (0300 200 3887). The DMB can use only the addresses supplied through the relevant head of duty systems, which in turn use data supplied in the relevant company registration documents. So for corporation tax and VAT correspondence will be sent to the registered office address.
• DMB campaigns: Campaign letters are constantly under review. They are aimed at taxpayers and based on behavioural insight. In the longer term it may be possible to share them with agents at the start of each campaign. All of these aspects have improved especially with the introduction of the agent dedicated line. With the exception of the so-called “just pay” letters, all correspondences include a telephone number. “Just pay” letters have been preceded by a series of letters giving the contact details.

Issue: 4465 / Categories: For Action , Admin , Compliance