Working Together
Working Together was a partnership between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and a wide range of main agent and other representative bodies.
This group has closed
The Working Together partnership between HMRC and a range of agent and other representative bodies has been replaced by the regular meetings and engagement HMRC has with these stakeholders on a business-as-usual basis.
Further information and guidance:
1. Membership
Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Association of International Accountants (AIA)
Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT)
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP)
Certified Public Accountants Association (CPAA)
International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB)
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
Independent Certified Practicing Accountants (ICPA)
Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA)
Society of Professional Accountants (SPA)
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
VAT Practitioners Group (VPG)
2. Purpose
Working Together looked for ways to improve HMRC’s operations for the benefit of tax agents, their clients and HMRC.
The main objectives of Working Together were to:
- improve communications between HMRC and tax agents
- identify and clarify widespread issues which can be escalated in real time
- help HMRC focus on the best way to help tax agents and their clients
- be open and exchange views on how the tax system works
3. Talking Points
Talking Points were weekly interactive online presentations, usually lasting 45 minutes, focusing on topics agents are interested in or on emerging issues that HMRC identified as impacting on agents.
Talking Points (webinars) sessions provided agents with the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts from HMRC across a range of different topics.
4. Agent Account Manager Service
HMRC has an Agent Account Managers (AAMs) service to help tax agents and advisers deal with client-specific issues, which involve exchanges of customer-related data.
The AAM service acts as an intermediary between agents and HMRC, where the normal communication channels have broken down.
6. Issues Overview Group
Representatives from the HMRC team responsible for Working Together and the professional bodies operate the Issues Overview Group (IOG) to ensure that widespread issues raised by the professional bodies, their members, unaffiliated agents, and HMRC, are reviewed, resolved or escalated appropriately. Updates from IOG discussions on issues are published in Agent Update.