New HMRC more aggressive

News Article - 21 July 2006
Category:

The newly created HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is more aggressive than its predecessor, the Inland Revenue, according to a poll reported by Accountancy magazine.

The survey by accountancy body the ACCA found that 89 per cent of the 100 institute members polled believed the new institution was more aggressive.

Almost 80 per cent also thought that dealing with a bigger institution involved more potential for complication.

"The Revenue was always seen as taking a more reasoned approach to taxpayers than Customs, with its history of tackling smuggling, and its powers of investigation and arrest," said Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA head of tax.

"ACCA warned at the time of the merger that the more assertive culture would win out and so it seems has been the case."

Overall opinions on the success of the HMRC were mixed, however.

Ten per cent of those asked thought it was an improvement on its predecessor bodies, 39 per cent thought it was just the same and 51 per cent said it had got worse.

The HMRC was formed in April 2005, following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise departments.

Article keywords:

---

More industry news

• Think tank warns UK may have already slipped back into recession
• Growing demand for HR staff in technology and international sectors
• Boosting business growth a ‘priority’ to avoid Eurozone slowdown
• HMRC launches alternative disputes pilot scheme this week
• December employment statistics disregard gloomy recruitment predictions
• Eurozone manufacturing PMI shows modest improvement
• UK scores highly for economic governance by ratings agency
• Government launches two-year project focusing on manufacturing sector
• Burden of regulation on UK businesses ‘too high’

Back to news home page »