HMRC closure of enquiry centres may save money but what are the implications for high street accountants? BKL’s David Whiscombe contributed to an article for the UK200Group.
David Whiscombe, director of tax at UK200Group member firm Berg Kaprow Lewis, said the revelation that HMRC was evaluating the consultation responses is a ‘non-story’.
‘I’m not sure that this is really a story. In fact, the consultation explicitly focused on the ‘proposed new service model’ (ie, the arrangements which will replace enquiry centres) and was quite specific in saying that the consultation was not about whether the enquiry centre network should be retained. And there is nothing in HMRC’s summary to the responses, published in July, to suggest that they are re-thinking the closure of the network,’ says Whiscombe.
‘The replacement of HMRC enquiry centres isn’t up for review. All that is up for review is the detail of what will replace them. The real story is that even though (on HMRC’s own admission) many people responded to the consultation to the effect that closing enquiry centres was a rotten idea, HMRC has ignored them and is going ahead anyway.’
Lin Homer, HMRC’s chief executive said at the time the closures were announced: ‘The new service will enable us to tailor that help in a way that works better for customers and is more flexible and affordable than the service we currently provide.
‘We will give a more specialised phone service for customers whose affairs can be resolved over the telephone and face-to-face help to those who need it, visiting them at a place convenient to them, saving them both travel and time. HMRC will provide a more modern and accessible service that will target the right support to customers who need it, where and when they want it.’
The full article is available as a pdf. It has also been published online by CCH.