The contract will see Butterworths provide internal training and help Customs staff deal with technical tax enquiries from the public.
Customs staff will have access to Butterworth’s ‘Indirect Tax Online’ service which provides data on VAT returns, customs duties, insurance premium tax, air passenger duty and landfill taxes.
The decision by Customs to partner a company in the private sector is part of its initiative to get its tax guidance services online by the government deadline of 2005.
Butterworths said it was delighted with winning the tender and was confident of a long-term relationship with Customs & Excise.