COA Solutions – Business Accounting Software

In his latest letter to stakeholders, HMRC’s David Ellis has admitted that P46(car) forms were not processed from April of this year due to the ongoing problems with the National Insurance & PAYE Service system (NPS) and the need to correct annual codes. A number of taxpayers had queried with HMRC why their code had not been amended once their employer had informed HMRC that they had been given, or had a car removed, since the start of this tax year.

Do you know what makes me sad about the revelation that Dave Hartnett – permanent secretary for tax at HMRC – is the civil servant who holds the record for being treated to corporate hospitality over the last year (107 times we are told)? It’s not that he had the time to go out twice a week as well as help run HMRC, but that I’ve never been to an employer event that he has also been at to hear at first hand the concerns of the payroll profession who act as his army of unpaid tax collectors.

Amongst the Bills announced yesterday was a Scotland Bill. Its aims as announced are

Strengthening the devolution settlement in Scotland.
Increasing the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament.
Renewing the policy responsibility split between the UK and Scottish Parliament.
Improving the relationship between the UK Government and Scottish Minister

At a time of year when it is popular, often for very good reason, to outline the inefficiencies of HMRC and the problems associated with submitting tax returns, I wanted to outline a personal experience that showed things are not all bad.