The taxman has said that tax returns compiled by qualified tax advisers gave 'no guarantee' that they would not contain errors.

Following a meeting between HM Revenue & Customs and institutes' group the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies , the taxman said both parties wanted to see an improvement in terms of tax knowledge and its application.

Advisers said it was hard to get access to trained HMRC specialists, but HMRC said: 'It was clear that most agents did a thorough and professional job, but it was still the case having a professionally qualified agent acting was no guarantee that returns made would be error-free.'

HMRC is considering sharing with advisers common errors found on returns, and continuing to work with institutes on their CPD programmes.

The taxman said it would use its recent advisers' telephone pilot to improve its services, and planned to improve the advisers' area of its website after it found they were increasingly using its site to access information and as a first point of contact.

HMRC again voiced concern about a minority of firms not complying with disclosure rules. The CCAB were keen to see the firms reported to them, said HMRC.

HMRC director general Dave Hartnett and Theresa Middleton, director for small medium enterprises, attended the meeting on behalf of the taxman.

Further reading:

View the CCAB discussion

Disclosure plan has hallmark of success