The government has recently released a consultation exploring how tax returns are amended and is keen to develop a process that is both simple and transparent.
In response to this, AAT surveyed its licenced accountant members and found that more than two thirds are, to varying degrees, in favour of a single digital amendment process. Less than a third disagree with the idea.
The report also revealed that after receiving an online confirmation, AAT members are waiting on average 23 days to obtain a response from HMRC. AAT argues in its submission to HMRC, that whilst a response time of 23 days ‘may appear to be reasonable … in some circumstances, such as payroll, such a delay could cause considerable inconvenience’.
More than one in five (21%) of survey respondents said that they had to wait 30 days or more to get a response from HMRC and of those respondents, 2% said they had waited up to a year.
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Email JaimePhil Hall, AAT Head of Public Affairs and Public Policy, commented on the findings, “AAT members views on this issue are quite clearly in favour of a single amendment process and whilst AAT recognises there will be significant challenges to achieving this – given that tax returns for payroll, VAT, individuals and businesses are very different – the savings that are likely to be realised, not least due to a knock-on reduction in HMRC resources, suggest that this is an ambition worth pursuing.”
He added, “AAT is pleased that HMRC is consulting on these important issues, and welcomed the opportunity to survey our members and to discuss the issue with our Tax Panel to ensure we accurately reflected our members’ views when submitting our response. We now await the outcome of this call for evidence with interest.”
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