In his 2004 Budget, the Chancellor announced the creation of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC will integrate the activities of HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue, with responsibilities that will encompass the collection of taxes, payment of tax credits and border control.

The Small Business Service (SBS), part of the Department of Trade and Industry, has published the results of a survey of small and medium-sized businesses, their advisers and their representative bodies into what they want from the changes and how they would like to see them implemented. Some of the key findings of the survey are:

• one point of contact - a named person who can provide help and advice across all areas of tax
  
  
• better advice - long-term, proactive support that emphasises education as well as enforcement
  
  
• fewer, simpler forms - HM Revenue and Customs has to work harder to make administration easier
  
  
• coordinated inspections - with a merged department, businesses would like inspections consolidated, so that less time is spent preparing for them
  
  
• improved tax collection and operation of benefits and credits - simpler collection processes, with consideration given to having a single account for payments and repayments.
  
  
• centralised information storage - systems need to talk to each other to reduce requests for information that's already on file
  
  
• better communication - from e-mail to secure messaging and CD-Roms, business is enthusiastic about any way of simplifying communication
  
  
• more 'usable' websites - the new department's websites need to be thoroughly tested to ensure ease of use
  
  
• a less adversarial approach to enforcement - to ensure fair treatment and aid compliance.
  
  

The full report is available on the SBS website.

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...back to 3 December 2004


Source:
www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=136954
www.sbs.gov.uk/press/news179.php