HMRC and tax agents
HMRC have published a consultation document entitled ‘Establishing the future relationship between the tax agent community and HM Revenue & Customs’ which sets out proposals and options for engaging with tax agents in the future, focusing in particular on the relationship with paid, professional tax agents.
In the consultation document HMRC sets out its strategy for dealing with agents that includes:
- Secure enrolment and segmentation of tax agents to differentiate between those who are in business and those in the voluntary sector or acting on behalf of friends and family.
- Reducing time and cost for all parties by making it easier for all agents to access the services they need and by increasing their ability to self serve on behalf of clients where appropriate.
- Tailoring HMRC’s support services to paid, professional agents to reflect the compliance risks inherent in their client portfolio.
- Providing additional support for agents whose own standards are below those expected in the professional community.
- Tackling more effectively those few agents who are found to be acting dishonestly.
The closing date for comments on the consultation is 16 September 2011 and HMRC welcomes views from all tax agents, including those who are not affiliated to a professional body and organisations from the voluntary sector.