Costs of compliance with HMRC statistical surveys April 2022 to March 2023
Published 27 September 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-survey-compliance-cost-report-2022-to-2023/costs-of-compliance-with-hmrc-statistical-surveys-april-2022-to-march-2023
Summary
This publication reports on the estimated cost incurred by businesses and local authorities in complying with the statistical surveys conducted by HMRC during the financial year April 2022 to March 2023.
The cost for businesses complying with HMRC’s statistical surveys for 2022 to 2023 was £0.56 million, this was a decrease of 72% compared with the 2021 to 2022 figure of £2.04 million.
This was driven by the switch to customs declarations for goods imported from the EU to GB from 1st January 2022, following the change to exports from 1st January 2021. This removed the need for businesses to complete Intrastat survey declarations therefore reducing the burden on businesses for statistical information for these periods.
The Intrastat survey of intra-European Union (EU) trade accounted for just under 100% of total cost, with the residual from the Ancillary Cost Survey.
Users must refer to the accompanying explanatory notes.
Table 1: HMRC’s survey compliance costs
| Year | Number of surveys | Compliance costs (£ thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 to 2022 | 2 | 2,037 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 2 | 561 |
Download HMRC’s survey compliance costs 2022 to 2023 summary (ODS 9KB)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics
Intrastat survey
Total Intrastat responses in 2022 to 2023 were down 73% on the previous year, driven by a number of factors including:
- Intrastat returns no longer required for the imports of trade in goods from the EU to Great Britain from January 2022, in addition to not being required for exports of trade in goods from January 2021
- fewer traders now included in the Intrastat population
There was a 1.9% increase in the estimated hourly wage rate for completing Intrastat (£19.91 in 2022 to 2023 compared with £19.54 in 2021 to 2022, as derived from the (provisional) 2022 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) rates).
Table 2: Intrastat compliance costs
| Year | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of responses (monthly) | 8,956 | 2,456 | -72.6 |
| Estimated hourly rate (£) | 19.54 | 19.91 | 1.9 |
| Total cost (£ thousands) | 2,036 | 560 | -72.5 |
Download Intrastat compliance costs 2022 to 2023 summary (ODS 9KB)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics
Ancillary Cost Survey
Total Ancillary Cost Survey (ACS) responses in 2022 to 2023 were down 53% on the previous year. This was driven by fewer traders included in the Intrastat population, and therefore part of the ACS.
There was also a 0.4% decrease in the estimated hourly wage rate for completing ACS (£15.84 in 2022 to 2023 compared with £15.90 in 2021 to 2022).
Table 3: Ancillary Cost Survey costs
| Year | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of responses (total) | 49 | 23 | -53.1 |
| Estimated hourly rate (£) | 15.90 | 15.84 | -0.4 |
| Total cost (£ thousands) | 0.39 | 0.18 | -53.2 |
Download Ancillary Cost Survey costs 2022 to 2023 (ODS 9KB)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics
HMRC’s total survey compliance cost
Total survey compliance cost in 2022 to 2023 was down 72% on the previous year.
Table 4: HMRC’s total survey compliance costs (£ thousands)
| Year | 2021 to 2022 | 2022 to 2023 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intrastat | 2,036 | 560 | -72.5 |
| ACS | 0.39 | 0.18 | -53.2 |
| Total | 2,037 | 561 | -72.5 |
Download HMRC’s total survey compliance costs 2022 to 2023 (ODS 9KB)
Source: HM Revenue & Customs Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics
Contact details
Statistical contact: T. Fuller
E-mail: uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk
Media contact: HMRC Press Office
Media contact email: newsdesk@hmrc.gov.uk
Next release: September 2024
If using specific facts contained in this release, please check the information is still current.