Pre-return support for agents - an update on the new toolkits

Two more toolkits have been developed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to make it easier for agents to get their clients’ tax returns right first time. These are:

• Private and personal expenditure (Income Tax Self Assessment)
• Capital Gains Tax for land and buildings

Each toolkit is packed with useful information including:

• a checklist to help you address the key risks from HMRC’s point of view
• explanatory notes, which identify the underlying risks, how to mitigate those risks and a brief outline of the tax treatment
• cross references to the relevant guidance available online

The use of the toolkits is entirely voluntary but those who do choose to use them will benefit from:

• having access to the latest information on HMRC’s view of risk and common errors
• help for you and your clients to get it right first time, reducing the likelihood of an HMRC compliance check
• assistance in enabling you to focus your work to the areas of highest tax risk
• help to demonstrate reasonable care

You may also be interested to know that initial feedback from the agents testing the three earlier toolkits includes:

‘excellent, using it all the time to catch errors and help with our processes’ and ‘very helpful, easy to use, will pass internally around the firm to other offices’.

The current pilot will run up to 31 January 2010 and will be evaluated during February/March. Once we have completed the evaluation we expect to make these toolkits available via our website.

If you are interested in being involved in the pilot testing of the above two toolkits, please contact us.
Email: Pre-return support project team