Working together

KEY POINTS

• HMRC’s plans on working with tax agents were recently explained by director general Jim Harra.
• What exactly is the nature of the relationship between HMRC and tax agents?
• Do HMRC want to collect the right amount of tax or as much as possible?
• Being pragmatic in negotiations with HMRC should not be seen as non-compliance.
• Are HMRC prepared to work with agents as equals?

In a recent Q&A article for Tax Journal the replies by HMRC’s director-general for business tax Jim Harra appeared to have generated a fair amount of unrest and even anger among tax agents.

I suspect that was not Harra’s intention. When I read the article – “HMRC’s plans on working with tax agents” – I glossed over it.

However...