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TWEd complains that HMRC staff cuts could affect the level of service to taxpayers.

Well, it’s been another busy week at TW Towers II. (Are there ever any quiet weeks any more?) Tax, it seems, waits for no man. Or ‘non-natural person’ of whatever creed. It seems that the furore over the so-called "pasty tax" has not yet abated – fuelled in part, no doubt, by a certain high street baker’s vegetarian offering. (At least in my house – although Mrs. Ed. broke with tradition recently, with a different flavour; to coin a phrase: if it ain’t broke...).

Changes also seem to be afoot as regards the UK/Swiss deal. Again. Perhaps this is part of the strategy: present a moving target to the EC so as to pre-empt any objections? My money’s on the EC, if I’m honest.

But back to the real current* issue du jour: HMRC resources. This affects every taxpayer in the land – represented or otherwise.

For those who have been involved either in Working Together or the Closer Working with Tax Agents Initiative, (for my sins, I am involved with both), there have been some encouraging signs that HMRC has recognised and taken steps to deal with some specific issues, such as:

• Helping people to deal with tax issues on bereavement
• PAYE/Construction Industry Scheme End of Year repayment claims

HMRC has repeatedly assured us that the latter will not become the festering sore it was last year. That is welcome, although the only tangible evidence I’ve seen so far has been a help sheet asking CIS Limited Company Sub-Contractor businesses to get their details straight – not the main problem, based on my own experience!

No, the real problem is, and will continue to be, the reduction in head count at HMRC – and the perpetual reorganisation within the corps. HMRC itself issued something last week regarding exceptional delays in telephone queries after Easter. I hadn’t noticed any real change: it was as frustratingly dire as ever. Re-allocation of staff was promised to deal with the problem...

Here’s my personal rub. I gain a great deal of satisfaction in representing taxpayers well and, shall we say, helping HMRC to find in the client’s favour. It’s a personal, selfish thing – but human nature I think. It detracts from the experience somewhat, when I have to spend more time explaining the rules than getting my carefully crafted, finely honed points across.

I have some real sympathy for the person at the other end of the ‘phone / letter if it turns out they were working in a different department the week before. It makes me wonder how this will end up and the cynic in me says just one word: badly. Of course badly for HMRC means badly for everyone else, too.

Regards all,

TWed

*To those who say it’s not ‘current’ because it’s a problem that’s been around for ages, I agree to an extent: it’s about as current as gravity – just because it’s been around approximately forever doesn’t mean it’s not relevant next time you want to call an HMRC helpline!