An update on the pilot of HMRC's ‘agent view’ has now been published.

By way reminder, the ‘agent view’ is aimed at bringing information together on agents performance and that of their clients with a view to improving standards.

HMRC have previously advised that they will proceed with this work at a slower pace than originally intended and a commitment for full transparency and consultation has been made to the professional agent bodies through the Joint Tax Agent Strategy Steering Group (JTASSG). Chartered Accountants Ireland is a member of JTASSG.

As part of the pilot activity, HMRC has selected around 60 agents (each with a minimum of 200 Self-Assessment clients) for the pilot, where either:

• less than 80 per cent of their clients submit returns on time
• less than 60 per cent of their clients pay on time

HMRC stress that they have not picked agents where either:

• it's clear that the majority of their work involves bringing clients with poor compliance histories back on track
• they are investigation specialists

HMRC now advise that they intend to begin issuing invitations to agents who are selected for the pilot with proposed meetings with Agent Support Officers running for eight weeks.

More information is available from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/agent-view-pilot.htm