Large Business Service

The Large Business Service (LBS) is responsible for working with the UK’s largest businesses on a range of taxes, duties and regimes, and works collaboratively with colleagues across HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in tackling risk and providing customer service. LBS employs tax specialists, accountants, auditors and is supported in its work by other tax specialists from across HMRC. The LBS looks after 770 of the largest businesses in the UK.

Melissa Tatton is the Director of HMRC Large Business Service.

Engaging with LBS customers

Large Corporates Forum

The Large Corporates Forum has been re-launched, with the first meeting since 2010 taking place in May 2012. The terms of reference are below, containing links to the minutes of the most recent meetings.

Terms of reference

To establish ongoing links between the LBS and its customers to:

  • better understand the needs of its customers and so improve the service it provides
  • identify the compliance burden on customers with a view, where practicable, to taking measures to reduce it
  • provide a forum within which current taxation and operational issues can be debated in an atmosphere of mutual trust
  • provide a more informal atmosphere where participants can engage in collaborative thinking and sharing of ideas

The Forum is not a representative body. It is intended to improve communications between large business and LBS with a view to increasing common understanding and improving the service that LBS provides to its customers. It is not intended to replace or displace the many existing links between HMRC and representative bodies, such as the Business Tax Forum, but to supplement them by providing a direct channel between LBS and its customers which is more operationally focussed.

Membership

The Forum consists of a cross section of Heads of Tax to ensure that it is representative of all LBS customers, as well as the main industry sectors in the large corporate area. Nominations were made by LBS Deputy Directors. HMRC representation will consist of people from LBS, and as appropriate, people from other directorates such as policy advisors. New applications for membership of the Forum should be sent to the Secretariat Philippa Madelin.

Chairing arrangements

The Forum will be chaired by an LBS deputy director. Agendas will be jointly prepared with the business attendees. There will be a limit to attendees at each meeting to enable meaningful discussion without meetings becoming unwieldy and there will be a refreshment policy for bringing in new members.

Wider participation

Minutes of meetings will be posted on this website. If any other Heads of Tax wish to participate in the debate they can register their views with the Secretariat or their Customer Relationship Manager.

Frequency of meetings

It is intended that meetings will take place quarterly with the facility for extra meetings if issues arise that require discussion at short notice.

Meetings in 2013

9 May, 8 June, 28 June and an event for all members on 4 October.

Meetings in 2012

28 May (PDF 16K)
18 July (PDF 21K)
13 September (PDF 25K)
5 Nov (PDF 25K)

For further information on the Large Business Service please follow the links below.

Large Businesses

Customer Relationship Managers - roles and responsibilities

Contacts for businesses overseen by Large Business Service (PDF 21K)

Large Business Service - Operating Model

LBS Oil, Gas & Mining Sector

Feedback

Each LBS business has a dedicated Customer Relationship Manager. They should be the first point of contact for any enquiries.