HMRC have contacted us to advise that a new digital service called the personal tax account has been launched. The full communication from HMRC reads as follows:-

“A new digital service giving people a better understanding over their tax affairs is now available to individual customers. The Personal Tax Account (PTA) brings information together in one place, making it easier for people to access their personal tax affairs online.

The new service won’t change the way agents interact with HMRC. Agents can continue to file SA returns using the existing portal service.

Your clients will find a range of benefits by using their PTA. They can choose to receive electronic rather than paper communications (but as agents you will still receive paper copies for clients who go paperless) and they can also use their account to:

• view and update their personal address
• access a range of iForms which they can complete and submit online
• view and amend an estimate of the income tax they’re likely to pay in the current tax year
• tell HMRC about changes to certain taxable benefits from their employer

‘Non business’ Digital Self Assessment (SA) customers will move from Your Tax Account to the Personal Tax Account giving them the opportunity to use these additional services. SA customers who are self-employed or pay business taxes such as VAT or Corporation Tax, will in future also be given access to their Personal Tax Account. We’ll continue to develop the account based on user feedback and in depth customer research.

Please note that the Personal Tax Account isn’t currently designed for use by agents. We will be improving the service to provide agents access, until then you should not try to access it on behalf of your client. Also if you log on to submit your client’s return using their credentials, this can create security alerts which HMRC staff need to investigate. This can delay clients receiving their repayments.

HMRC continues to develop online services for agents through Agent Online Self Serve (AOSS). AOSS is being developed with input from agents to ensure that services best meet agents’ needs. Agents who meet the required criteria and wish to take part in testing the AOSS private beta service can register via GOV.UK up until 11 December 2015. Updates on AOSS will be provided through regular briefings to stakeholders and posts on the HMRC Tax Agent Blog.”

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