The merger - the final straw?

Article by John Andrews, CIOT President 1997-1998. This article appeared in the December 2005 issue of Tax Adviser. On the announcement of the merger between the IR and HM Customs, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group expressed reservations.

They were concerned that individuals, particularly those at the bottom of the economic pile, would receive even less care and attention than had been the case before merger. They argued that a merger driven by overhead efficiencies and a more effective compliance strategy would only benefit customers in the business sector (if anyone at all).

John Andrews pinpoints four features:

• a government which has piled upon HMRC a succession of near impossible tasks;
  
• an over-reliance on technology to solve problems;
  
• cutting staff before the organisation is ready to absorb the cuts; and
  
• a lack of understanding of the needs of those on very low incomes.
  

Technical Department
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December 2005 by John Andrews