[UK] HMRC announces new PAYE service and Transformation Roadmap

In the UK, HMRC has announced a new online PAYE service for around 35 million UK taxpayers as part of more than 50 measures to transform the UK’s tax and customs system.

The new online service for all PAYE taxpayers will simplify the process of checking and updating income, allowances, reliefs and expenses. It will be available via Personal Tax Accounts or through the HMRC app.

This service is reportedly part of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, launched on July 21, which sets out big plans to become a digital-first organisation by 2030, with 90 per cent of customer interactions taking place digitally.

The roadmap details more than 50 IT projects, services and measures that are intended to transform the UK’s tax and customs systems, simplifying processes and making it easier to pay the tax that funds public services and deliver the government’s Plan for Change.

According to HMRC, the plans to modernise the tax and customs system, introduce new AI technologies and work with third parties and intermediaries will make it easier for taxpayers, businesses and intermediaries to interact with HMRC.

The digital first approach will reportedly see HMRC automating tax wherever possible and offering new digital self-serve options across a number of tax regimes.

In addition to the new PAYE service, HMRC says it will save £50 million a year – the equivalent of almost 1,500 full-time nurses – by moving customer letters and reminders to a digital first approach, reducing the reliance on paper correspondence, by the 2028 to 2029 tax year. Paper post provision will continue for critical correspondence and the digitally excluded.

James Murray MP - Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury - said, “We are going further and faster to make HMRC fit for the 21st century, including delivering a simpler and easier system for all PAYE workers.

“By 2030, taxpayers can expect a modern and innovative HMRC with cutting-edge AI, industry-leading customer service practices, and a laser focus on delivering taxpayer value for money by ensuring everyone pays their fair share.”

JP Marks - HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary - said, “The Government’s ambition is for a simpler tax and customs system and this roadmap sets out how HMRC will deliver a first-class experience that feels different to their customers.

“By 2030, UK citizens will experience a tax administration system that is more automated, more focused on self-service, and better set up to get things right first time so they can fulfil their tax obligations.”

The Transformation Roadmap establishes timescales for delivery. HMRC says it is committed to reporting on progress. Work is underway to deliver some of the measures set out in the roadmap this tax year, including:

• Extending the rollout of the SMS confirmation service to Self Assessment appeals, complaint cases and some PAYE services

• Improving the Self Assessment registration service and streamlining the exit process for those customers who no longer need to file a Self Assessment tax return

• Expanding the rollout of the voice biometrics pilot to make customer verification easier when calling HMRC’s helplines

• A new service to give employed parents, who are newly liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge, the choice to pay it directly through their tax code without needing to register for Self Assessment

• Launching an enhanced reward scheme for informants, targeting information on serious non‑compliance in large corporates, wealthy individuals, offshore and avoidance schemes. The new scheme will reward informants with compensation linked to a percentage of any tax taken

Source: GOV.UK

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the UK, HMRC has announced a new online PAYE service for around 35 million UK taxpayers as part of more than 50 measures to transform the UK’s tax and customs system.

The new online service for all PAYE taxpayers will simplify the process of checking and updating income, allowances, reliefs and expenses. It will be available via Personal Tax Accounts or through the HMRC app.

This service is reportedly part of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, launched on July 21, which sets out big plans to become a digital-first organisation by 2030, with 90 per cent of customer interactions taking place digitally.

The roadmap details more than 50 IT projects, services and measures that are intended to transform the UK’s tax and customs systems, simplifying processes and making it easier to pay the tax that funds public services and deliver the government’s Plan for Change.

According to HMRC, the plans to modernise the tax and customs system, introduce new AI technologies and work with third parties and intermediaries will make it easier for taxpayers, businesses and intermediaries to interact with HMRC.

The digital first approach will reportedly see HMRC automating tax wherever possible and offering new digital self-serve options across a number of tax regimes.

In addition to the new PAYE service, HMRC says it will save £50 million a year – the equivalent of almost 1,500 full-time nurses – by moving customer letters and reminders to a digital first approach, reducing the reliance on paper correspondence, by the 2028 to 2029 tax year. Paper post provision will continue for critical correspondence and the digitally excluded.

James Murray MP - Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury - said, “We are going further and faster to make HMRC fit for the 21st century, including delivering a simpler and easier system for all PAYE workers.

“By 2030, taxpayers can expect a modern and innovative HMRC with cutting-edge AI, industry-leading customer service practices, and a laser focus on delivering taxpayer value for money by ensuring everyone pays their fair share.”

JP Marks - HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary - said, “The Government’s ambition is for a simpler tax and customs system and this roadmap sets out how HMRC will deliver a first-class experience that feels different to their customers.

“By 2030, UK citizens will experience a tax administration system that is more automated, more focused on self-service, and better set up to get things right first time so they can fulfil their tax obligations.”

The Transformation Roadmap establishes timescales for delivery. HMRC says it is committed to reporting on progress. Work is underway to deliver some of the measures set out in the roadmap this tax year, including:

• Extending the rollout of the SMS confirmation service to Self Assessment appeals, complaint cases and some PAYE services

• Improving the Self Assessment registration service and streamlining the exit process for those customers who no longer need to file a Self Assessment tax return

• Expanding the rollout of the voice biometrics pilot to make customer verification easier when calling HMRC’s helplines

• A new service to give employed parents, who are newly liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge, the choice to pay it directly through their tax code without needing to register for Self Assessment

• Launching an enhanced reward scheme for informants, targeting information on serious non‑compliance in large corporates, wealthy individuals, offshore and avoidance schemes. The new scheme will reward informants with compensation linked to a percentage of any tax taken

Source: GOV.UK

(Quotes via original reporting)