Have your say - Working Together and other groups and forums
In this section:
- Working Together: HM Revenue & Customs and representative bodies
- Consultative groups, forums and working parties
Working Together: HM Revenue & Customs and representative bodies
Working Together is a partnership with the main agent representative bodies to improve all areas of our operations for the benefit of agents, advisers and their clients. It provides a forum to raise operational issues or problems that have been identified by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or the representative bodies, either at a national level or through local Working Together groups.
The local group meetings, which allow agents, advisers and accountants to raise issues, are attended by HMRC officers and local tax practitioners. The National Working Together team provides support to local groups through regular briefing and assistance in the resolution of issues. The local groups hold meetings across the UK.
The Working Together Steering Group comprises representatives of HMRC and the representative bodies and meets on a quarterly basis to provide strategic direction and to monitor and review progress.
This guide explains what Working Together does, how to get involved and where agents can find information about changes made through the partnership.
On this page:
- Working Together locally
- Regional Working Together conferences for autumn 2008
- Working Together nationally
- Working Together publication
- Contact Working Together and get involved
Working Together locally
The local Working Together groups hold meetings two or three times a year. They meet across the UK.
The meetings provide an opportunity for a free exchange of views between us and tax and VAT advisers on the way we operate the tax system. The meetings have an agenda to make sure they're productive. But we also want them to be open and informal. Everything is up for discussion in a positive environment.
Some groups hold large meetings that are open to all agents. But normally there'll be at most two agents nominated by each of the main professional bodies. These representatives ask local members from their organisations for items to include on the agenda. After the meetings they provide feedback to their members.
You can find your nearest local Working Together group from the local group directory.
Find your local Working Together group
Regional Working Together conferences for autumn 2008
If you belong to a Working Together local group you’ll soon be receiving an invitation to come along to a regional conference near you.
We’ve developed a series of events with members of the Working Together Steering Group where we plan to bring agents and HMRC staff together to:
- contribute to discussion and consultation at technical workshops
- meet HMRC directors who will set out the current direction for HMRC, its structure and the challenges it faces
- develop and share best practice for engagement and joint working between HMRC and the agent community for the future
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2 September | Birmingham | Motorcycle Museum Solihull |
| 10 September | Bristol | Redwood Hotel |
| 11 September | London | New Connaught Rooms |
| 12 September | Belfast | Hilton Belfast |
| 16 September (to be confirmed) | Newcastle | To be confirmed |
| 23 September | Manchester | Manchester City Football Ground |
| 30 September | Cardiff | Novotel |
| 2 October | Leeds | Ramada Parkway |
| 7 October | Edinburgh | Barcelo Carlton Hote |
| 10 October | Portsmouth | Holiday Inn Pembroke Road |
Do look out for your invitation. We’re hoping to meet as many of you as possible at the conferences.
Working Together nationally
The national Working Together Steering Group includes representatives from HMRC and the professional bodies for tax practitioners. Our representatives are:
- the team leader from the national Working Together team
- an HMRC Committee member
- senior HMRC managers representing specific activities
The Working Together partners from the professional bodies represent the:
- Chartered Institute of Taxation
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Association of Taxation Technicians
- Association of Accounting Technicians
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
The Steering Group has quarterly meetings which provides the opportunity for a free exchange of views on operational matters that are important both to us and to practitioners.
Key aims
The key aims of the Working Together Steering Group are to:
- provide leadership and a clear focus for Working Together
- focus on issues where our procedures and our service affect tax advisers and their clients
- deal with new issues of national importance as and when they arise
- agree the key priorities
- check on the progress being made on the key priorities
- receive information on reviews or projects that different parts of HMRC carry out
- make sure that agents' views are passed to consultation groups
- identify opportunities to work together to improve our service to agents and their clients
Keeping you informed
We want agents to know what has been discussed by Working Together groups and what action we've taken as a result. We give news about other forums, discussions and consultations so that agents can take part or contribute. We also provide agents with practical guidance on issues that are of national interest.
Get the latest news and guidance from the Working Together team
Read the minutes of Working Together Steering Group meetings
Working Together publication
The Working Together publication covers a range of subjects that have been identified as key areas of concern and interest to practitioners. They give more detailed information about these.
We archive everything that's covered in the publications. You can search for a specific topic without having to look through all the recent issues.
Browse the Working Together publication archive
Search for a specific topic in the Working Together publications
Contact Working Together and get involved
The key objectives of Working Together are to:
- improve two way communications between us and tax practitioners
- help us to find the best way to help you and your clients
- be more open about how we deal with things
If you'd like to find out more about local events or raise a local concern use the Working Together local directory to find the right contact.
Use the Working Together local directory to find the right contact
Get contact details for the Working Together National Team
