Working Together
Working Together is a partnership between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and a wide range of main agent and other representative bodies.
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 looks for ways to improve HMRC’s operations for the benefit of tax agents, their clients and HMRC.
The main objectives of Working Together are 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. How to raise an issue
There are a several ways to raise an issue:
- if you are a member of the Working Together Online Agent Forum: once you identify what you believe is a widespread issue, post the details on the Working Together Online Forum and any requested supporting evidence.
- if you are a member of a professional body: contact your professional body Working Together representative, providing all the relevant information - you can find their details on the last page of the latest edition of Agent Update
- if you are a member of a professional body, but there are currently no contact details listed for this in Agent Update: email the Agent Engagement Team, detailing the problem together with supporting evidence
- if you are not a member of a professional body: email the Agent Engagement Team, detailing the problem together with supporting evidence
4. Talking Points
Talking Points are weekly interactive online presentations. These are short online sessions, usually 45 minutes, focusing on topics agents are interested in or on emerging issues that HMRC identify as impacting on agents.
Talking Points (webinars) sessions provide agents with the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts from HMRC across a range of different topics.
If you’d like to join a Talking Points session or watch a recording of a previous session you can do so - see webinars, e-learning and videos if you’re a tax agent or adviser.
5. 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.
7. Agent Update publication
The Agent Update publication includes a section on the IOG and issues that have been identified as important areas of concern.