Legal Trainees: Introduction

HM Revenue & Customs

Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is one of the largest government departments employing over 85,000 people throughout the UK (approximately one fifth of all civil servants). The department is engaged in activities as diverse as the investigation of organised crime to the administration of benefits and credits.

Our purpose

  • We make sure that the money is available to fund the UK's public services.
  • We also help families and individuals with targeted financial support.

Our vision

  • We will close the tax gap, our customers will feel that the tax system is simple for them and even-handed, and we will be seen as a highly professional and efficient organisation.

HMRC was formed in 2005 following the merger of the former Inland Revenue with HM Customs & Excise - both having had a similar remit as they were engaged in the administration of tax, the investigation and prosecution of fraud and organised crime, and had dispersed staffing populations across Britain.

HMRC is a non-ministerial department. Instead it has an Executive Board of Commissioners (ExCom), which works closely with Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT) with whom HMRC shares a building in Whitehall.