Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
HMRC told us it was planning to recruit more than 1,000 debt management staff in...
Conclusion
HMRC told us it was planning to recruit more than 1,000 debt management staff in 2021–22, but it was starting with a staffing shortfall. At September 2021, HMRC’s debt management team had 300 fewer FTE staff than it had planned. It was awarded additional funding for 600 FTE staff for three years at Budget 2020. HMRC believed the 1,000 new staff it recruits would only be sufficient to close the existing shortfall after taking account of staff who retire or resign.21
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2: PAC conclusion: HMRC is not being ambitious enough in bringing down debt levels and securing the resources this will require. 2: PAC recommendation: There is a clear value for money case to increase debt management capacity. HMRC should set out how much more tax debt it can bring in with increased levels of capacity using private sector and public sector options and write to the Committee alongside its Treasury Minute response with its findings and the actions it is taking to maximise value for money. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 HMRC provided evidence to the Committee on 17 January 2022. Subsequently, at Spring Statement 2022, the government announced an additional £62 million over three years to fund additional staff in HMRC to help people and businesses pay their tax debts. This will raise an additional £1.8 billion for the Exchequer between 2022-23 and 2024-25. 2.3 In total, HMRC is recruiting almost 2,000 debt collection staff in 2022-23 to fill vacancies and utilise the additional funding granted at Spring Statement 2022 and previous fiscal events. 2.4 In addition, from September 2022, there will be a new contract through which HMRC places debt with private debt collection agencies (DCAs). This will allow HMRC to increase placements with DCAs by around £1 billion a year without increasing the cost to the Exchequer. 2.5 The government believes the information here, and provided at Spring Statement 2022, is sufficient for the Committee to be reassured that HMRC is taking action to maximise value for money and that a separate letter to the Committee is no longer required.