Further agent guidance from HMRC

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HMRC publishes guidance on what agents need to do when they restructure their firms and on registering clients for a new tax.

HMRC has now completed the work it has been doing on revising guidance for agents by publishing two final pieces of guidance.

HMRC has now published guidance for agents who change the legal entity through which they are operating. The new guidance covers situations such as a change from sole trade to partnership, incorporation, and a merger with another firm.

In the past, HMRC has sometimes agreed to move client authorisations from one agent code to another. GDPR requirements mean that this is no longer an option. It is necessary to register any new legal entity as an agent with HMRC. New authorisations to act must also be obtained from clients.

How to register your client for a tax service as an agent explains the different ways in which agents can register a client for a new tax. It lists those taxes where the agent can do this in advance of being authorised as an agent. For some taxes, such as capital gains tax property reporting and plastics packaging tax, the registration can only be done by the client. There is scope for further improvements to this page, such as making it clear that when registering a client for self assessment the online SA1 can be accessed by agents using their credentials.

HMRC has also published guidance which is aimed at clients:

The Tax Faculty welcomes feedback on this guidance. Please email caroline.miskin@icaew.com.

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