Dave Hartnett CB, Permanent Secretary for Tax

Dave was appointed Permanent Secretary for Tax on 13 October 2008. He works to the Chief Executive and is the senior tax professional in HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and is the Deputy Chief Executive. He has specific well-defined accountabilities in the areas of tax policy and tax strategy.

His Executive Committee portfolio includes Central Policy and Knowledge, Analysis and Intelligence.

Biography

Dave joined the Inland Revenue in 1976. He spent nearly ten years on investigation work before, in 1991, becoming Director of Claims Branch then Financial Intermediaries and Claims Office dealing with schemes for tax relief and deduction at source, non residents and trusts. In 1996, he moved to lead the technical teams on personal taxation then, in 1998, he was appointed Director of Capital and Savings.

He led the 2000 quinquennial review of the Valuation Office Agency before joining the Board of Inland Revenue as Director General (Policy and Technical). Following the merger of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, he became HMRC’s Director General for Customer Contact and Compliance Strategy and then Director General for Business.

Dave led the development of the rules requiring disclosure of schemes of tax avoidance and the OECD Study of Tax Intermediaries. He was also one of the Commissioners who set up the Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre (JITSIC). He has had an interest in compliance and enforcement throughout his career and established the High Risk Corporate Programme for addressing compliance issues in big business.