The annual report shows that HMRC generated £28.9 billion of compliance yield, billions of pounds that would have otherwise been lost to the UK through avoidance, evasion and organised crime but will now be spent on public services.
This equates to around £1,000 for every household in the UK. HMRC have strengthened their grip on the minority who deliberately try to cheat the system and continue to pursue those who refuse to pay tax that they owe, on behalf of the honest majority.
The annual report claims that in the last financial year HMRC surpassed expectations and exceeded targets across the board. During that year HMRC has been focusing on improving the means by which honest taxpayers access their services. New online services are intended to make it easier for some people to get advice and support and more increasing numbers of taxpayers are submitting their annual self assessments digitally.
This focus a minority of people has meant record additional revenues from avoidance, evasion and organised crime.
The report shows that HMRC:
- has contact centre staff now available seven days a week and answering phone calls in less than four minutes in 2016/17
- is marking the seventh consecutive year of record total tax revenues, collecting a total of £574.9 billion – £38.1 billion more than last year
- generated record compliance yield of £28.9bn through our work to stop avoidance, evasion and organised crime
- has over the last six years brought more than 500 serious organised criminals to justice. Investigations and enforcement action against organised crime generated or protected £3.2 billion in compliance yield in 2016-17
- handled more than 1,200 cases heard in courts and tribunals – winning 83% and protecting £15 billion in tax revenues
- helped more than nine million individuals to access online services with more than five million businesses having access to their online account to file, pay and obtain help.
Clearly HMRC are putting a positive spin on their activities and are trying to improve their customer services, however a significant number of people struggle to challenge HMRC decisions relating to their tax. If you find yourself having to manage a dispute with HMRC give us a call as we may be able to assist with the process and resolve outstanding issues.
