HMRC data grasp concerns CIOT

Increasing the data HMRC collects from businesses and employers risks placing significant extra burdens on taxpayers putting more stress on the tax authority’s already strained resources and means HMRC demands data from taxpayers that is not relevant to its core role to collect and manage revenue or tax credits cautions the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

In a recent consultation HMRC explored potential options for improving the range of data it collects uses and shares across government. This was on the basis that improving the administrative data collected by HMRC and other departments can be helpful for economic statistics and lead to better policy and operational decision-making across government.

John Barnett chair of CIOT’s technical policy and oversight committee said: ‘Our members continue to contact us about their frustration at HMRC’s poor service levels and response times with many saying it is...