LOW-KEY ROLLOUT OF INDIVIDUAL DIGITAL TAX ACCOUNTS LEAVES TAXPAYERS CONFUSED

摘要

As the April 2016 deadline approaches for the introduction of digital tax accounts, HMRC has confirmed that it has been promoting the accounts almost exclusively online, with calls for action whenever individual taxpayers go to HMRC on gov.uk. Individual taxpayers have not been contacted and since the digital tax accounts are voluntary, HMRC stresses that people will not have to take action as it is not mandatory to activate a personal digital tax account. But there is still confusion about whether individual taypayers have to set up a digital tax account, particularly for those with more complex tax affairs, although HMRC has said categorically that this will not be the case. In the longer term, the accounts will mean that self assessment will be abolished.