COMPLIANCE
Nudge tactics: The rise of HMRC’s one-to-many letters
With one-to-many letters growing in ubiquity, Richard Hattersley, managing editor of AccountingWEB, explores what’s behind this key tool in HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) compliance strategy
I n recent years HMRC has ramped up its use of one-to-many letters, or “nudge letters”, as part of its compliance strategy. The aim of the generic letters is to nudge taxpayers into complying with their tax obligation. This past summer on AccountingWEB, we have counted at least ten one-to-many letters – or nudge letters – being sent to taxpayers and even agents. Over the summer we have reported on brown letters dropping on doormats where HMRC has targeted high income child benefit charge inaccuracies, dog and cat breeders failing to declare income, undeclared crypto assets resulting in chargeable gains and incorrect Construction Industry Scheme tax deductions. Typically, these letters are sent directly to the taxpayer with the agent copied in. However, as with the nudge campaign in July where HMRC has identified multiple clients showing inconsistencies with P11D, P14 and / or the high-income child benefit charge (HICBC) in their 2022/23 self-assessment returns, these letters were sent directly to the tax agent.
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | November 2024 | Issue 105 26
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