Digitalis
May 25, 2016I don’t want to say much about the NAO report on HMRC’s customer service, out today, except to note this:
As a consequence, though HMRC continued to live within its agreed budget, the quality of its service to taxpayers collapsed in 2014-15 and the first half of 2015-16. In hindsight, this was a mistake, and not value for money.
When compared to HMRC’s data on the annual cost of answering calls, the NAO estimates that the increased cost to customers was £4 for every £1 saved by HMRC over this period. (NAO)
In other words, there was – the NAO found – a direct correlation between HMRC’s “savings” and the administrative burden placed on taxpayers.
HMRC came back gamely this morning with the usual line about this all being in the past and everything today is rosy and bright…
HMRC responds to NAO criticisms with best customer service performance in years https://t.co/XK65aFNaXN pic.twitter.com/G2aCTZjiNU
— HMRC Press Office (@HMRCpressoffice) May 25, 2016
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The problem is, that as we go forward into the Brave New Digital World, we don’t really believe them. There is evidence that they prioritised cuts over service in the past. There are firm plans to cut staff further and relocate them where pesky customers can’t get to them for the future. Why should we believe that the “best customer service performance in years” won’t dive back down to rubbish in the next few months and years? As Richard Murphy suggests:
Stop the office closures.
Stop the redundancies.
Make digital services optional.
Provide the support people need.
Make paying tax possible.
tiintax 
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