HMRC have announced that almost a year to the date that the Income Review Viewer (IRV) Service was moved into a Public Beta HMRC have released a change to extend the coding data from current year-only to include the previous 4 tax years. This is a direct result of the feedback that was given by the HMRC group (that SPA is a member of) on the IRV and HMRC hope this will be a great help to agents when completing your client’s tax returns in our busiest time of year in the run up to the Self Assessment deadline. There will be a note in the Agent Update here, but in the meantime please go and test this new feature and let me know how you get on.
HMRC know from feedback that Income Record Viewer remains a popular and helpful digital tool which enables you to do a range of things to support your clients. HMRC want to ensure that they keep developing it so that it provides more of what you need. However, HMRC need to balance that with the requirements they have as a tax authority to make sure that the tax data they hold is robust and secure.
We flagged that we and our membership might find it useful to see information in respect of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) on the Income Record Viewer tool. HMRC agreed to explore this further.
After consultation with expert colleagues in their digital, security and operational departments HMRC regret to say that they are unable to include CIS information in the Income Record Viewer tool.
The reason is the security requirements around the data in question and the need to have strong parameters about how HMRC manage access to that information.
HMRC know that this will not satisfy us, however they do remain committed to developing the Income Record Viewer wherever possible. Please let me know about things you would find useful to improve or expand the service and I will notify HMRC accordingly.
Agent update 114 includes:
Forms agents should use before 26 February
Before 26 February 2024, continue to submit claims for Income Tax relief for job expenses using a P87 form and Marriage Allowance using a MATCF form in the usual way on behalf of your clients. Forms which are received by HMRC, and date stamped as received before 26 February 2024 will still be processed as normal. Consider that if you’re sending forms to HMRC, we recommend allowing around 10 days for delivery and processing.
Any new format P87 or MATCF forms, to be released in early February 2024, should not be submitted to HMRC prior to 26 February 2024. Forms submitted in advance of this date may be rejected. HMRC will provide a further update on this early in the new year.
Changes to Income Tax or PAYE repayments process
On or after 26 February 2024, if you’re a paid tax agent submitting P87 and MATCF claims on behalf of others and you want to receive repayment on behalf of your client, you will need to provide your agent reference number when submitting the forms — there is a required field to complete your agent reference number.
Failure to add your agent reference number to the designated nomination section on or after this date will result in repayments for valid claims being paid directly to the taxpayer, not the nominated third party.
You’ll also need to ensure your client has completed the section which tells us whether they’re nominating a professional to act on their behalf for the purposes of the repayment claim. Failure to select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the appropriate section could result in repayments for valid claims being paid directly to the taxpayer, not the nominated third party.
Upcoming changes to R40
Similar changes to the R40 form will be introduced in due course. HMRC will provide a further update in advance of this change.
What you need to do now
Agents submitting Income Tax or PAYE repayment claims on behalf of their clients will need to register for an agent services account immediately, if you have not already done so. You can check what you need to do to receive Income Tax or PAYE repayments on behalf of others, or alternatively ask HMRC’s digital assistant if you have any questions.
More details included in Agent update 114 are as follows:-
- electric charging of company cars and vans at residential properties
- property business arrangements involving hybrid partnerships – Spotlight 63
- second-hand motor vehicle VAT-related payment scheme – update to deadline
- Electronic sales suppression (ESS) a year on: HMRC continues clamping down on major till fraud tips for when you must use post
The link is https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agent-update-issue-114
