HMRC-is it time to call the Army in?

[etf]

Repayment issued

[etf]

Has Jeremy asked Sir Jim the question yet?

Jim, you publish statistics indicating that 70+ per cent of post is dealt with within 15 working days, but there are reports taxpayers are being told they'll have to wait 55 weeks to receive a reply to their letters. How do you reconcile the two and are you being open and honest as a good civil servant must be?

[etf]

How should Rachel Reeves respond to Jeremy?:

Sir Jim's HMRC, makes you wait nearly six times longer than Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke

Kim Basinger/Mickey Rourke 9 1/2 weeks

Sir Jim's HMRC 55 weeks

[etf]

5 examples that might explain why HMRC are drowning in chasing calls from agents and their 'customers'

i) letter sent to HMRC on 3 July 2023...letter received but no reply despite a few chasing calls (55 week wait time is to be expected).
ii) 64-8 submitted 31 October 2023....received but not actioned by HMRC.
iii) 64-8 submitted 10 November 2023.....received but not actioned by HMRC.
iv) 2022/23 tax return submitted 3 December 2023....still not showing correct tax due.
v) 2022/23 tax return submitted 27 January 2024....still not showing correct tax due.

Please will someone ask Sir Jim why just about everything under his control is broken and when did 55 weeks become an acceptable wait time for a letter to be answered?

[etf]

So I've undertaken my daily check of cases 2-5 in my previous post. No change as HMRC have not progressed any of them.

I also phoned HMRC again regarding my 3 July letter (20 minute wait) ...earlier chasing calls have indicated 14 week and 23 week timescales followed by 'it can take a year to reply'.

This time, I was told 41 weeks is the new timescale (the NeverEnding Story song entered my head) and I requested a short letter from HMRC confirming this. I'll send it to Sir Jim and ask him:

- for his feedback;

- why he publishes monthly post statistics that are so misleading.

[etf]

The more I think about Jim's management of HMRC the more I think he is absolutely bonkers.

Why would you prioritise post received within the last 15 working days before post that is over a year old that hasn't been answered? It is the type of scenario you encountered on basic management development testing. If you came up with Jim's answer you would be sent permanently to the post desk to open letters for the rest of your career. It shows a complete lack of organisation and also regulation....'where are the regulators?' (in my best Barry Davies voice). It is just crackers and I can't understand why he is not being challenged.

[etf]

Sir Jim in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLdBYJYIgyI

[etf]

By TaxableBen
15th Mar 2024 10:59
I had to bring two clients into the office and phone HMRC (SA Helpline as they somehow weren't on our client list) and put the call on loudspeaker. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of making small talk with the clients, as the dreadful music played in the background, we were told that they were too busy to answer the call right now and advised us to call back another time! There was disbelief in the room though, sadly, not from me. The service has been on a downward spiral pre-Covid and has only got worse to the point now that it is a national embarrassment!

[etf]

Sir Jim....how can I get early retirement?

The answer:

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/tax/hmrc-policy/hmrc-to-make-permanent-cuts-to-helplines?cm-uuid=9c7e48c7-22ae-47eb-ae35-da823e2668af&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AWUKBN19032024&utm_content=AWUKBN19032024+CID_0248082561b454ca03f93a878d142c17&utm_source=internal_cm&utm_term=Read%20more

[etf]

Crikey....120 comments already in response to Sir Jim's announcement of which 119 are not complimentary.

I can't wait for the political parties to knock on my door!