This month’s update features the latest on the Agent Forum.

“Digital Support for Business & Agents – Agent Forum July Update for VCG

Agent Forum (AF)

As at end of August 2018 the Forum has 804 Agent subscribers, up 111 since the last progress report. And 147 HMRC staff. We continue seeking key stakeholder engagement to both use the Forum and recruit more Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for provision of issue resolution responses. It has attracted over 55k views (up 7k), 2883 (up +275) posted messages on 561 (52+) current topics; which are moderated daily with appropriate responses given, as determined by subject matter, related traffic generated and referrals provided by line of business.

Our priority after delivering issue resolutions to agent enquiries, continues to be enlisting formal SME engagements and focusing on recruiting more agents to register for and use the forum. Our phase 2 programme of promotion emails is currently running and will continue throughout September. We are inviting Agents who are subscribed to Agent Update. When we reach membership of 1000, we will suspend recruitment and review our delivery capability. On account of fixed resources set against a substantial increase in traffic volumes and resolutions. A new initiative launched during August, was the publication of a weekly digest email to all registered Agent forum members. It summarises traffic raised on the forum during the previous 7 days, with dedicated links to specific issues raised. Initial results suggest it has significantly increased agent engagement and views.

We continue to work closely with the Issues Overview Group (IOG), made up of Professional Bodies (PBs), a number of whom also sit on the VCG together with HMRC representatives. It jointly determines what the ‘widespread’ issues priority classification should be, for earliest resolution. New arrangements for these meetings have been in place, since late 2017 which moved away from a fixed schedule of events throughout the year to bespoke ones. Focus is on subjects of most concern, at which relevant Subject Matter Experts attend to both hear first-hand how Agents are impacted and to offer up or take away issues for resolution. A bespoke meeting held during July addressed the proposed abolition of Class 2 NI and associated Direct Debit issues. This issue continues to attract attention, given the Chancellor’s recent announcement this month to cancel the abolition of Class 2 NI.

The Digital Support for Businesses and Agents (DSBA) Agent Team, staffed by 2.5 FTE Issues Resolution Managers (IRMs), moderate and run the forum. As and when required we bring in extra cover from our Agent Account Managers (AAMs) team to ensure we maintain response service levels, when going to Lines of Business for issues resolution.”

END OF HMRC UPDATE