2006 Review of Links with Large Business

The Chancellor announced on Budget Day 2006 that he had asked Sir David Varney, then Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs ('HMRC'), to lead a review of HMRC’s links with large business.

The review will build on the 2001 Inland Revenue review of links with business and the creation of the Business Tax Forum to seek opportunities to further improve the relationship between HMRC and large business. The Terms of Reference were published on 12 April 2006.

The 2001 review was welcomed by business as a positive development in their relationship with the former Inland Revenue. In recognition of the creation of HMRC and the evolving commercial environment business operates in, this review is an opportunity to take stock of the current relationship and to consider how business and HMRC can work better together to ensure the UK has a modern, responsive tax administration that meets our mutual needs.

Sir David chairs a consultative committee with senior representatives from business, HMRC and HM Treasury to provide strategic direction and ongoing guidance for the review. The membership of the consultative committee was announced on 5 May and the first meeting was held on 30 June.

Since that first meeting, Sir David stood down as Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs and moved to HM Treasury as the Chancellor’s senior adviser on Transformational Government. However, Sir David will continue to lead the review of links with large business.

A core review team, headed by John Connors, Director of HMRC’s Large Business & Employers Team in the Business Customer Unit (“BCU”), is leading the day-to-day management of the review and consultation with business, their representative bodies and advisers. John is supported by Julie Hughff, as Project Lead and a small team from BCU.