PLENARY FOUR DEBATE: DOYOU
CONSIDERPAYROLL PROFESSIONALS TO BE TAXADVISERS? SIMON PARSONSMSC FCIPPDIPMBCS DIRECTOR OF UK COMPLIANCE STRATEGY, SDWORX LOU GRAY CHMCIPPDIP HEAD OF TRANSITIONS AND OPERATIONS AT ERNST AND YOUNG
Simon and Lou participated in a lively debate that asked whether payroll professionals should be tax advisers.
Opening the session, the CIPP’s policy lead, Samantha Johnson, talked about the consultation ‘ Raising standards in the tax advice market ’ that the CIPP responded to in June 2021. The consultation focused on defining tax advice in legislation and placing a requirement on tax advisers to have professional indemnity insurance (PII).
Lou’s opening argument looked at how payroll professionals play a guiding role for their customers and should remain wary of crossing the line between guidance and advice. Simon provided the counter-argument, describing the value payroll can add when acting in an advisory role.
The result was close, with just one percentage point in it – Simon’s arguments emerged victorious. This was a fascinating discussion that served to highlight the importance of knowing what is in your remit to deliver – advice or guidance.
PLENARY FIVE RAISING STANDARDSAND PROFESSIONALISM JASONDAVENPORTMCIPPMIOD PAST CHAIR AT THE CIPP SUSAN BALL DEPUTY PRESIDENT AT THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF TAXATION
Hosted by the CIPP’s Vickie Graham, this session saw Susan and Jason discussing standards in payroll. Consideration was given to whether payroll service providers should be treated differently to in-house payroll professionals when assessing if they are deemed to be tax advisors, and 82% stated that, yes, they should. Delegates were then asked the question of, if payroll were to be regulated, would they expect all payroll professionals to be qualified, or just a percentage within organisations. 76% suggested that this should, indeed, be a percentage within organisations. Susan provided some interesting background to the consultation relating to raising standards of tax agents and where she felt payroll slotted into that. Jason followed by providing insights, drawing on his own experiences of the journey payroll has been on and why professional standards in the industry are so important.
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