The consultation on improving the data HMRC gets from its customers deserves serious consideration and it is far too important to be left to just tax boffins.
Rather worryingly it has been introduced as a ‘stage two’ consultation meaning that it has skipped the critical first stage of setting out objectives for public debate. Its focus therefore is on identifying the best options rather than on exploring the merits of creating what looks in effect like a rolling business census.
On the plus side it is easy to understand that the data in question could be really useful in supporting the government’s levelling up agenda and targeting resources and policies. At the same time any additional administrative burden on businesses with the potential for penalties for non-compliance needs to be justified. There will need to be a clear...
