Working Together - an overview

Working Together (WT) is a partnership between HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the six main agent representative bodies which looks for ways to improve HMRC's operations for the benefit of tax agents, their clients and HMRC.

This guide explains what WT does at national and local level. It also includes a link to the Working Together publications.

On this page:

Working Together nationally

The WT Steering Group (WTSG) provides the strategic direction for WT and is responsible for the local WT network. The National WT Team (NWTT) supports local groups by providing regular communications and briefings on operational matters - as well as helping to resolve problems through the issues resolution process.

The WTSG is made up of senior representatives from HMRC and the six main professional bodies:

  • Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
  • Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)
  • Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The WTSG meets three times a year and enables a free exchange of views on operational matters that are important both to HMRC and tax agents.

Key aims

The key aims of the WTSG are to:

  • focus on systemic issues where HMRC procedures and service affect tax agents and their clients
  • deal with new issues of national importance as and when they arise
  • agree key priorities and check on their progress
  • receive information on reviews or projects that are being carried out by HMRC
  • make sure that agents' views are passed to consultation groups
  • identify opportunities to work together to improve HMRC's service to tax agents and their clients

Get the Terms of Reference for the WTSG (PDF 34K)

Read the minutes of the WTSG meetings

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Working Together locally

WT includes a network of local groups across the UK which is an essential part of the partnership.

Key objectives of the local WT groups are to:

  • improve two-way communications between HMRC and tax agents
  • identify and clarify issues which can be escalated to the NWTT in real time
  • help HMRC focus on the best way to help tax agents and their clients
  • be open and exchange views on how the tax system works

Many of the agents in the local groups will represent one of the main representative bodies. But some will attend as part of the wider local agent community, or as a representative of other agent organisations. Agents who attend the meetings are asked to bring discussion items from their colleagues with them, and feed back to them after each meeting.

Find more information and get contact details for your local WT group

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Working Together publication

The Working Together publication includes detailed information on a range of subjects that HMRC believes are of interest to agents or that have been identified as key areas of concern.

Go to the latest Working Together publications

Find previous Working Together publications on the National Archive website (Opens new window)

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Joint initiative on service delivery

Agents and HMRC are working together to address the concerns about service standards that have been raised by the representative bodies following a Treasury Select Committee report.

Read an update on the joint initiative on service delivery (PDF 38K)