Employment details
In our newsletter on 20 April 2017 we advised that from May 2017 HMRC would no longer provide details of taxpayers’ pay and tax deducted to tax agents, when requested by phone. The information would be sent by post to the taxpayer concerned.
HMRC said an electronic solution would be in place by late summer 2017 to allow tax agents to obtain this information directly from HMRC’s system. That electronic solution has not materialised.
Instead HMRC has added to the list of information it will not provide to tax agents, which now extends to:
- Pay and tax information – letter will be sent to taxpayer only if the taxpayer is unable to obtain this information form a P60 or their personal tax account.
- Employment history information such as P11D benefits received – HMRC will provide this information if it is needed to complete an SA tax return.
- Information on bankruptcy, existing Deeds of Assignment, Section 9a enquiries (opened, ongoing or previously opened) or Individual Voluntary Agreements.
SA302 statement
The latest issue of Agent Update (no. 61) confirms that paper copies of the tax calculation (SA302) will not be sent to tax agents from 4 September 2017. Tax agents should be able to print the tax calculation or tax year overview, for each client from their tax return submission software.
Agents normally only request a paper copy of the SA302 because their client is trying to obtain a mortgage or loan, and the lender requires the “official” HMRC view of the taxpayer’s income. HMRC say they have been working with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to persuade their members to accept the agent’s own printed copy of the tax calculation or one the taxpayer has printed from his own online personal tax account.
If you would like to discuss any of these issues further do not hesitate to contact DFC Accountants in Cardiff.