Stakeholder Digest: News and updates from HMRC

This Stakeholder Digest provides a round-up of our latest news and updates, which we’d be grateful if you could share with your clients, customers or members.

The government has set up a dedicated support page where businesses can find the right support, advice and information to help with the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

• Performance update: HMRC’s response to coronavirus
• HMRC issue briefing: how HMRC will continue to support customers and the economy
• Plans for the tax system in the longer term
• Over 64 million meals claimed for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme

Performance update: HMRC’s response to coronavirus

HMRC went through a unique first quarter in the 2020 to 2021 financial year and we have now published our performance data for this period, which covers April to June 2020.

HMRC has been at the forefront of the government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the extraordinary challenges being faced by millions of individuals and businesses. The operational priority has been to deliver the government support that aims to protect people’s livelihoods and help businesses get through this difficult time financially.

HMRC issue briefing: how HMRC will continue to support customers and the economy

HMRC has today published a briefing document detailing how the department will work with customers and stakeholders over the coming months, while coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the country.

The document contains information about the support schemes and policy changes that HMRC has implemented and the department’s principles for the next steps around tax collection, benefits payments, compliance checks and debt activity.

The briefing has been published on GOV.UK.

Plans for the tax system in the longer term

As the department carefully refocuses its activity back onto its more routine function of collecting tax, we will continue to support the individuals and businesses of the UK, while protecting the tax system and bringing in the money to fund the country’s vital public services, such as the NHS.

The government recently published its 10-year vision paper for tax administration. This sets out plans for changes to how tax is charged, paid and collected to be more in tune with how the world now works and will in the future to make it easier for individuals and businesses to keep on top of their responsibilities without adding undue extra burdens.

Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, recently spoke at the annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW) on HMRC’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), and his future vision for the tax system.

Over 64 million meals claimed for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme

With only one day left on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, latest statistics show over 84,000 individual premises registered, which together submitted 87,000 claims for the first three weeks of the scheme.

This amounts to 64 million meals, for a total of £336 million.

More information about the latest statistics can be found in the press release on GOV.UK.

We have also published a press release about some of the ‘wild and wonderful’ places taking part in Eat Out to Help Out.