HMRC powers and enquiries

FORTHCOMING CHANGE: On the 27 April 2023 Tax Administration and Maintenance Day, the government published a call for evidence on how HMRC’s information and data-gathering powers could be updated to enable digital transformation of taxpayer services, improve HMRC’s compliance capabilities, and reduce administrative burden. With a closing date of 20 July 2023, the call for evidence seeks views on, among other things: (i) how to reform and improve information and data-gathering from third parties, drawing on international best practice; (ii) opportunities to update HMRC’s third party information and data-gathering powers and safeguards; and (iii) improvements to the process by which HMRC issues information notices requiring a taxpayer or third party to provide information, data or documents.

In a related development (and following a consultation which closed on 12 October 2022, an announcement on 27 April 2023, the publication of draft legislation on 18 July 2023 and confirmation at Autumn Statement 2023) the Finance Act 2024 contains measures to require additional information from employers, as well as in personal, trustee and partnership tax returns, for the purpose of the collection and management of tax. These measures, which

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