Working Together - what's new
04 June
HMRC will no longer provide payment
and deduction details to contractors in the Construction Industry Scheme.
The provision of payment and deduction details to subcontractors and their
agents has become a growing problem. We will no longer provide this information
on a bulk basis but will continue to help any subcontractor that has a genuine
need for this information.
28 April
Consultation on improving the collection
of National Insurance cntributions (NICs) from the self-employed
Until 6th June 2008 HMRC is seeking feedback on a consultation paper: ‘Improving
the collection of National Insurance cntributions (NICs) from the self-employed’
21 April
Self Assessment (SA) box 23.1 update
We understand that some customers filing paper returns by 30 September 2007
or online by 21 December 2007 who have requested that their SA tax due to
be collected through their next years coding have been asked to pay tax
directly.
16 April
HM Revenue & Customs Change Programme
This briefing provides further information about our plans to modernise
and transform our services for customers.
08 April
LPO Working Together Forum
A meeting of the Large Processing Office (LPO) Working Together forum is
taking place on 11 April.
06 April
Changes to the 2007-08 Self Assessment Tax
Returns guide
There have been some changes to the SA Tax Returns guide (or ‘Big
Book’) for 2007-08 as a result of the redesign of the SA Main Tax
Return and associated guidance.
4 April
Service
issues – Self Assessment
We've identified a problem with SA 109 returns (Non-Residence in, Domicile
outside, the UK) for the year ended 5 April 2007. There’s no need
to take any action at this stage.
28 March
Working Together issue 30
The latest edition is now available.
Agents' guide to changes to the
paper Self Assessment main Tax Return
Guidance for accountants and advisers on the new main Tax Return –
what's changed, new form numbers and how to get them.
26 March
Incorrect Penalty notices
We started sending out penalty notices, for SA returns that were not filed
on time, on 22 February. Some people had problems using our SA online service
on 31 January and 1 February and we have already indicated that any return,
whether online or paper, received by midnight 1 February will be automatically
treated as received on time.
12 March
Customer Relations Managers (CRMs) - update
Pilot being extended to cover all agents in Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester,
Northumbria and Liverpool.
11 March
Budget
2008
The Chancellor will make his Budget speech to the House of Commons on 12th
March 2008 at 12:30pm.
3 March
Self Assessment – changes from 2007-08
(PDF 16K)
2007/08 where a return cannot be filed online for one (or more) of the reasons
recorded as an 'exclusion' such taxpayers can file an HMRC paper return
or a computer generated 'identical' paper return up to 31 January 2009 without
incurring a penalty.
29 February
Generating
your client list
Some agents are experiencing problems where their client list is not being
generated at the HMRC portal and they are receiving an error message.
21 February
Customer Relations Managers – update
Customer Relations Managers now available for tax agents in Liverpool.
15 February
Had problems filing your tax return on time?
The Self Assessment online service was partially disrupted on 31 January
2008. The service also ran slowly at times on 1 February 2008.
14 February
Strengthening our relationship with agents and
employers
One of our top priorities is to improve our vitally important relationship
with agents and employers.
Customer Relations Managers now available for tax
advisers in four new locations
We have now appointed Agent Customer Relations Managers (CRMs), to improve
access for tax advisers to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) services.
29 January 2008
Suspension of potential strike action at
HMRC on 31 January 2008
Information informing customers about suspension of potential strike action
on 31 January 2008.
28 January 2008
Composite Payments – (One Payment with
Multiple Payslips)
Information is now available.
25 January 2008
Have you registered yet for Self Assessment
Online?
You can still register for our service but as a security measure we need
to post activation PIN to you. This is sent to you by first class post so
you will not receive this before the 31 January deadline. We therefore suggest
you file this year's return by paper.
23 January 2008
Working Together issue 29
The latest edition is now available.
Have you registered yet for Self Assessment
Online?
You can still register to file your 2006-7 return online but we recommend
you make arrangements for submitting returns by paper if the activation
PIN for the service does not arrive on time.
Potential Strike Action at HMRC on 31 January
2008
Information informing customers about Potential Strike Action at HMRC on
31 January 2008.
21 January 2008
Box 23.1 on SA100 Tax Return Filed Online before
31st October 2007
There was a problem with Box 23.1 on the main SA Tax Return (SA100) filed
online prior to 31 October 2007.
16 January 2008
Self Assessment (SA) Statements
– December 2007
Information for customers or their agents about Self Assessment Statements
and Payment Reminders issued/due to be issued in December 2007.
04 January 2008
Have you registered yet for Self Assessment
Online?
Do it now! Register by the 22 January 2008 to file your 2007 return online
before this year's 31 January filing deadline.
21 December
Improving Contact Centre Services for Agents
Responding to feedback from Tax Agent Representatives at the Working Together
Steering Group Meeting on 5 December 2007 HMRC Contact Centres agreed to
introduce a new Agent Dedicated Line in each taxes Contact Centre.
06 December
Advisory Fuel Rates
Today we have published revised Advisory Fuel Rates to take effect from
1 January 2008.
26 November
LPO Working Together Forum
A meeting of the Large Processing Office (LPO) Working Together forum is
taking place on 3rd December. The meeting provides the opportunity for agents
to raise issues of operational concern with HMRC through representatives
of the professional bodies who attend.
All agents who have dealings with LPO offices can use the email window facility to identify operational issues which they would like the meeting to be aware of.
15 November
Agent Priority Line
numbers for the following areas have changed: Birmingham & Solihull,
Gloucester & North Wiltshire, South Wales (Oxford), Staffordshire, Warwick
& Coventry, Worcester & Hereford.
06 November
The consultation document, HM Revenue & Customs and the Taxpayer: Tax appeals against decisions by HMRC, published 8 October 07 seeks views on modernising and streamlining the way HMRC deals handles appeals against its decisions. In particular, it seeks views on a more consistent approach to internal impartial review.
Since its creation in 2005, HMRC has been striving to improve and align procedures across its business and to achieve better customer focus. Reforms to the tribunals hearing tax appeals, being carried through by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), present a unique opportunity to streamline the HMRC’s legislation and practice about appeals. The tribunal reforms run right across Government, affecting 70 existing tribunals, including the tribunals currently hearing tax, tax credits and child benefit appeals.
To read the Consultation Document and find out how to respond please visit the HMRC Consultations page
26 October
Paper substitute returns for Self Assessment
From April 2008, HMRC will no longer approve or accept computer generated substitute versions of the SA Return.
This will apply for 2007/08 returns onwards for key SA returns.
8 October
Update for agents on delays with post,
VAT registration and 64-8
Through Working Together HMRC has been working closely with agent representative
bodies on concerns raised by agents about delays with post, VAT registration
and 64-8 agent authorisation. This is the latest position.
4 October
PAYE: 2006-07 Penalties for
Outstanding PAYE Returns
We have identified that some electronically filed returns (P35 and P14s)
have given rise to incorrect penalty notices which were dated 24 September
2007 being issued to employers.
Where
do I send VAT registration forms
From 1 October 2007 our Wolverhampton office will become the principal processing
office for VAT registration and deregistration applications.
12 September
Deceased Taxpayers and Penalties – S100A(1)
TMA 1970
Where a person who had incurred a penalty died, S100A(1) TMA 1970 allowed
HMRC to charge the penalty on the personal representatives of the deceased.
30 August
Working Together issue 28
The latest issue is now available.
28 August
Helpline closures
Following the introduction of the Construction Industry Scheme reform measures
in April 2007 we have reviewed the helplines which supported the old construction
Industry scheme.
23 August
Tax
help for those affected by foot and mouth outbreak
HMRC have recently set up a help line for those affected by the recent outbreak
of Foot & Mouth Disease. The number is 0845 366 1207 and is open 8.00
AM to 8.00 PM.
17 August
Agent Contact with HMRC - Telephone Pilot
Update
Thank you to those of you who sent us further feedback on the pilot following
our article which was published on 1 May. In our article of 12 March.
10 August
Local Working Together Update
Over the last couple of months we have made good progress in arranging for
coordinators in Local Compliance to take responsibility for organising groups
across the UK.
27 July
HMRC
has set up a new Helpline for anyone affected by the recent floods on 0845
3000 157.
The Helpline opened at mid-day on Friday 27 July and will enable anyone
affected by the flooding to get fast, practical help and advice on a wide
range of tax problems they may be facing. For further information see the
Environment
Agency website.
25 July
Centralisation of claims cases
Working Together has recognised the need to raise awareness of the centralisation
of Claims work into Leicester.
21 July
Hereford and Worcester road shows postponed
Due to the severe flooding in the area, and after consultation with Working Together agents locally, we have decided to postpone the workshops due to be held at Hereford and Worcester until later in the year. We are contacting agents who have notified us of their intention to attend these events to let them know. The revised dates will be posted to these pages in due course.
11 July
Giving
certainty to business through clearance and advance agreements
This consultation document, published in June, seeks views on a new process
for clearances and advance agreements for large business. HMRC welcomes
views on these proposals, which take forward the key themes of giving increased
and earlier certainty to business, moving closer to real-time working and
speedier resolution of issues.
10 July
Put your questions to Dave Hartnett
at HMRC
Agents are today being encouraged to email their questions for Dave Hartnett,
Director-General (Business) about HMRC’s recent initiatives to engage
with tax advisers.
25 June
Deferred National Insurance Contributions:
Notice to Pay
Deferment Services have recently undertaken an exercise to calculate the
deferred National Insurance contributions (NICs) due (where applicable)
for customers who had deferment of payment of NICs in the 2005-2006 tax
year.
22 June
Feedback from Consultative Committee
of Accountancy Bodies
The CCAB presidents met recently with senior HMRC officials, Dave Hartnett,
Director General with responsibility for business tax issues, and Theresa
Middleton, Director for SMEs, to discuss the relationship between HMRC and
CCAB members.
Working Together – Issue 27
Issue 27 of Working Together is now available.
15 June
Offshore disclosure arrangements:
HMRC reminds account holders of 22 June deadline
We are writing to offshore account holders whose details we have obtained,
reminding them that they have until 22 June to notify us of their intention
to make a disclosure. You may receive queries from your clients about this
over the next week.
4 June
PAYE Agents: tax-free payment notifications
for online filing
We are sending online notifications over the next two weeks telling you
that your clients have a £150 tax-free payment for sending their 2006-07
Employer Annual Return online.
31 May
Media reports on HMRC approach to
landlords
Many of you will have seen recent media coverage relating to HMRC and it’s
approach to landlords and you may be receiving queries from your clients
about this.
21 May
PAYE: 2005-06 Penalties
From 21 May 2007 we are sending a further penalty notice for outstanding
2005-06 Employer Annual Returns and Contractor Returns.
15 May
Working Together – Online Agent Authorisation
– PAYE Reference Starts with Zero
If you are an agent, and your client’s PAYE reference begins with
a zero, your clients cannot currently use our “Online Agent Authorisation”
facility.
14 May
Online Services for Agents
Note informing tax practitioners that HMRC are currently looking at ways
to improve the online services given to agents.
10 May
Working Together - PAYE Online
We are aware that some agents, particularly those using our HMRC Online
product, have been unable to send 2006-07 Returns and view their client
list.
30 April
Self Assessment Surcharge Notices
We are seeking to clarify the position regarding the Surcharge Notices issued
in March this year. Some Surcharge Notices due to be sent from Accounts
Office Cumbernauld during March were subject to a delay in despatching.
1 May
Agent Contact with HMRC – Telephone Pilot
The agent telephone pilot ceases on 30 April 2007.
30 April
Self Assessment Surcharge Notices
We are seeking to clarify the position regarding the Surcharge Notices issued
in March this year. Some Surcharge Notices due to be sent from Accounts
Office Cumbernauld during March were subject to a delay in despatching.
18 April
2005-06 PAYE penalties
Note informing practitioners that we have recently sent penalty notices
to employers where, according to our records, their 2005-06 Employer Annual
Return (or Contractor Return) is outstanding.
Construction Industry Scheme – FBI2
(PDF 65K)
The FBI2 now includes the new Construction Industry scheme so that authorisation
can be obtained for one or both services at the same time. Please ensure
the new form is used to request future authorisations.
5 April
Delay in the annual bulk issue of tax
returns
This is a message about a delay in the annual bulk issue of Tax Returns.
23 March
HMRC’s SA Tax Return software box 23.1
Not Disabled after 30 December 2006
After 30 December, the option to request that any tax owed for 2005-06 was
collected in the tax code should have been made inactive. Unfortunately,
this did not happen.
12 March
Agent contact with HMRC - telephone
pilot extended
The pilot was to run for 3 months from 1.12.06 until 28.2.07 which deliberately
included January so that the methods were tested fully.
7 March
Retirement Annuity Coding
(RAC) notices issued by Leicester & Northants
So far almost 1 million code numbers have been issued to customers whose
annuities will be taxed under PAYE for the first time in April 2007.
22 February
Bradford Contact Centre
Further to our What's New entry for 16 November 2006 Bradford Contact Centre
has now re-opened.
1 February
Revised Advisory Fuel rates
Revised advisory fuel rates form 1 February 2007.
30 January
Industrial Action 31 January 2007 (Item removed 3/9/07)
Information about the Industrial Action planned for 31 January 2007. This
message includes details of offices where paper returns can be delivered.
We will endeavour to keep this information as up to date as possible throughout
tomorrow.
23 January
Agent authorisations - an update on the new
form 64-8
You will know that we redesigned form 64-8 in September 2006.
19 January
Agent Contact with HMRC - Telephone
pilot
An update about the pilot is now available.
11 January
Have you registered yet for Self Assessment Online ?
Do it now! Register by the 24 January 2007 to file your 2006 return online
before this year’s 31 January filing deadline.
