Respect you and treat you as honest
Be honest and respect our staff
Provide a helpful, efficient and effective service
Work with us to get things right
Find out what you need to do and keep us informed Keep accurate records and protect your information Know what your representative does on your behalf
Be professional and act with integrity
Protect your information and respect your privacy
Accept that someone else can represent you
Deal with complaints quickly and fairly
Respond in good time
Tackle those who bend or break the rules
Take reasonable care to avoid mistakes
Also published is the Charter Advisory Committee’s final Your Charter Annual Report which reviews HMRC’s performance against the standards of behaviour and values in Your Charter and includes progress and priorities for further improvement.
The latest report (covering April 2014 to March 2015) focuses on:
introducing 22 new digital products and services, including: o PAYE for employees o Digital Self Assessment o Your Tax Account o Agent Online Self Serve
dealing with calls from customers – handling 89% of calls on the deadline day for tax credits renewals providing new ways for people to get in touch – e.g. webchats, secure messaging and social media such as @HMRCcustomers Twitter account improving the support HMRC give to people who need extra help creating a new Counter-Avoidance Directorate with a clear focus on reducing the tax gap and avoidance activity streamlining processes with the ‘Once and Done’ initiative – reducing the need for customers to contact HMRC more than once to resolve a query
My dog ate my tax return 19 January 2016
Just one of the worst top ten excuses used for missing the Self Assessment tax return deadline for 2013-14
The deadline for Self Assessment returns is 31 January.
HMRC has revealed that excuses submitted included:
1. My tax papers were left in the shed and the rat ate them 2. I’m not a paperwork orientated person – I always relied on my sister to complete my returns but we have now fallen out 3. My accountant has been ill 4. My dog ate my tax return 5. I will be abroad on deadline day with no internet access so will be unable to file 6. My laptop broke, so did my washing machine 7. My niece had moved in – she made the house so untidy I could not find my log in details to complete my return online 8. My husband ran over my laptop 9. I had an argument with my wife and went to Italy for 5 years 10. I had a cold which took a long time to go
These excuses were all used in unsuccessful appeals against HMRC penalties for late returns.
Last year HMRC announced that it would be fairer on those with genuine excuses as they focus their penalties on larger, deliberate tax evaders rather than ordinary people. This remains the case, but the excuse must be genuine and evidence may need to be presented. The ten listed above were all declined on the basis they were either untrue or not good enough reasons.
This year, HMRC will be accepting reasonable excuses up front before the deadline to avoid penalties after the deadline.
CIPP Policy News Journal
25/04/2016, Page 216 of 453
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