HMRC: qualified advisers 'no guarantee' of correct returns
The taxman said qualified advisers don't guarantee that a return will be error free, but admits it must look to improve its service delivery to the tax industry
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:
Disclosure plan has hallmark of success