HMRC’s response times

When it comes to HMRC response times is it a case of ‘do as I say not as I do’?

HMRC launched its new service in September to enable taxpayers to check online when they can expect a response to a query raised. The timescales for a response are disturbingly long as is the fact HMRC apparently now considers long delays so normal that it has an online checker dedicated to calculating them (tinyurl.com/hmrccwer).

The service produces some intriguing results when examined in more detail.

The first thing to note is that this service is available only to individuals. There is no equivalent for corporation tax or trusts. There is no indication at this stage whether there is an intention to extend the facility to include these work streams in future.

So how long will it take HMRC to deal with a taxpayer’s...