Views sought on users’ digital experience

The Chartered Institute of Taxation and Association of Taxation Technicians are asking for feedback from tax professionals and businesses – members and non-members – about their experience of making tax digital (MTD) for VAT, as well as thoughts on the future of the digital programme. 

The bodies are keen to hear from any tax agent and business, irrespective of whether they have been affected by MTD for VAT, because they may be in scope for future phases of MTD.

Tina Riches, chair of the joint CIOT/ATT digital and agent strategy working group, said: ‘We hope this will be one of the most comprehensive and crucial feedback exercises about MTD. We would like to ask agents and businesses to provide feedback on their experiences of MTD for VAT and their thoughts on the future of the digital program, including for other taxes. Even if you have not had to deal with MTD for VAT, you can take part by completing the sections of the survey around next steps.

‘We plan to feed the results of this survey, and a summary of respondents’ comments, into a submission to HMRC with the aim of helping inform and improve any future roll out of MTD for taxpayers, their agents, and HMRC.’ 

The survey addresses the transitional and continuing costs for businesses and agents, benefits identified, and the impact on errors, as well as posing questions on the next steps for MTD. The closing date for responses is 31 December 2019.

Ms Riches said: ‘The greater the number of responses and comments we receive from agents and businesses, the more this will help us and HMRC. The government has confirmed that MTD will not be mandated for any new taxes or other businesses until 2021 at the earliest.  

‘Back in 2015 the first announcement of MTD was made with no prior consultation having been undertaken. The result was that substantial parts of the community affected never bought into the rationale for it or key elements of its design, and indeed these had to be substantially revised. The government should learn from this and take this opportunity of evidence that will come from this survey and other means to help shape where MTD goes in future.’