HMRC hoping to force taxpayers to file VAT returns online
HM Revenue & Customs is to continue its campaign to force taxpayers to file online – this time by phasing out the pre-paid envelopes they normally supply to taxpayers for VAT returns, claims Birmingham-based accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.
Malcolm Winston, partner, of UHY Hacker Young, said: “This is unfortunate timing as HMRC’s recent data loss scandal is still fresh in everyone’s mind. You would think that they would be a bit more sensitive to taxpayers’ concerns before they tried to railroad them all into filing online.”
He added: “There are still quite a few personal and business taxpayers who either don’t have access to broadband or who are still very nervous about lodging sensitive financial information online.
“Perhaps when HMRC has built up some more credibility for data security and its online filing systems became a little less prone to crash then this kind of move could be viewed as less controversial.”
From October 1 all taxpayers sending cheques or VAT returns made out in hard copy will have to pay for postage.
HMRC says its phasing out of pre-paid envelopes follows the example of other private and public sector organisations.
However, Mr Winston said: “It seems strange that HMRC make this comparison. The customer gets to choose which company they deal with and have the right not to draw on public services.”
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