Enter Your E-mail

LITRG explains a new HMRC initiative to work in co-operation with professional bodies and charities with the aim of improving the Department’s service standards.

Introduction

Over the last dozen years, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has criticised HMRC (and the Inland Revenue before them) about how  inadequately they have recognised and measured what is important to the ordinary citizen in the delivery of their service.

For the first time HMRC have openly acknowledged, at the very top level, that urgent change is required and that the professional tax bodies and charities such as LITRG are essential to contribute to the solutions.

Key problem areas

Two of the most important issues for the ordinary citizen trying to engage with HMRC are:

• the ability to get through quickly and cheaply on the telephone to someone in HMRC who is able to resolve a problem, and;
• receiving a prompt and relevant response to a letter or a claim for repayment.

Both of these “simple” things have been very difficult over the last few years and we welcome this new initiative from Mike Clasper, the Chairman of HMRC, to get some practical improvements in the next three months through collaborative working.

LITRG will provide all the support it can to the proposed taskforce and will hope to make a difference on behalf of the low income population.

The joint statement from HMRC and the co-operating bodies can be found on the LITRG website.