HMRC Quarterly Performance Update: Tax Debt and Compliance Yield Rise
HMRC Quarterly Performance Update: Tax Debt and Compliance Yield Rise
The latest quarterly performance update from HMRC shows an increase in overall tax debt to £44.8 billion, up from £43.3 billion last quarter.
This includes £6.1 billion in managed debt and £38.6 billion of debt available for pursuit. The number of taxpayers in Time to Pay Arrangements (TTPAs) fell by 1.5% to 845,884 compared to the previous quarter’s figures. Fewer people have TTPAs than at the same time last year (888,863).
Whilst HMRC reported a decrease in new debt compared to the previous quarter (now totalling £45.8 billion for the six month period to 30 September 2024), the reduction in the number of taxpayers with TTPAs and increase in debt available for pursuit underlines the scale of the challenge for HMRC’s Debt Management teams to collect debts due to fund public services.
HMRC continues to be tough on those who don’t pay as demonstrated by the increase in the number of VAT registrations with a security placed on the business (now 939 up from 820 at 30 September 2023).
HMRC raised its expected cash from compliance activities from £1.8 billion to £3.73 billion. Consequently, the total compliance yield for the six months to 30 September 2024 is £17.38 billion, significantly up from £13 billion for the six months to 30 September 2023. This was despite only a small increase in the number of civil compliance checks closed (168,000 compared to 162,000) so the yield per check must be increasing compared to last year. If this trend remains then HMRC will achieve a greater yield in future as the number of new civil compliance checks jumped from 154,000 in the six months to 30 September 2023 to 181,000 in the same period this year.
Dawn Register, Tax Dispute Resolution Partner at BDO said:
“The debt owed to HMRC is now a whopping £44.8 billion, up by £1.5bn from the last quarter. This shows the level of challenge facing HMRC’s Debt Management team as it tries to recoup tax debts from late payers.
“At the Autumn Budget, the chancellor announced that 1,800 debt staff would be ‘maintained and recruited’ over the next 5 years. Extra resource is urgently required – as is the modernisation of HMRC’s systems.
“It's particularly worrying that we are seeing the number of Time to Pay arrangements going down while the debt available for pursuit is increasing.
“HMRC’s late payment interest rates are currently set at the base rate plus 2.5 percentage points, meaning the rate from 26 November 2024 will be 7.25%. This is due to increase by an additional 1.5 percentage points above the base rate from 6 April 2025. Taxpayers should therefore pay what they can as soon as possible to mitigate the interest charges. Agreeing time to pay arrangements before HMRC takes steps like involving bailiffs or taking money from wages or bank accounts would also be a sensible step for those struggling to pay.
“Interestingly, as fraud remains a significant and persistent threat to business – and particularly large businesses - the number of fraud hotline tip offs increased to 79,176 in the six months to the end of September, up from 68,507 in the same period last year.”
ENDS
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world.
The organisations we work with are Britain’s economic engine; entrepreneurially-spirited, high-growth businesses that fuel the economy.
We understand the ambitions and entrepreneurial mindset of those we work with and have the global reach, integrity and expertise to help people and businesses succeed.
BDO LLP
BDO LLP operates in 18 offices across the UK, employing 8,000 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP is the UK member firm of the BDO international network.
BDO’s global network
The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 166 countries and territories, with more than 115,000 people working out of 1,776 offices worldwide. It has revenues of US$14bn.
Email: frank.x.shepherd@bdo.co.uk
Tel: 07812 463601
This includes £6.1 billion in managed debt and £38.6 billion of debt available for pursuit. The number of taxpayers in Time to Pay Arrangements (TTPAs) fell by 1.5% to 845,884 compared to the previous quarter’s figures. Fewer people have TTPAs than at the same time last year (888,863).
Whilst HMRC reported a decrease in new debt compared to the previous quarter (now totalling £45.8 billion for the six month period to 30 September 2024), the reduction in the number of taxpayers with TTPAs and increase in debt available for pursuit underlines the scale of the challenge for HMRC’s Debt Management teams to collect debts due to fund public services.
HMRC continues to be tough on those who don’t pay as demonstrated by the increase in the number of VAT registrations with a security placed on the business (now 939 up from 820 at 30 September 2023).
HMRC raised its expected cash from compliance activities from £1.8 billion to £3.73 billion. Consequently, the total compliance yield for the six months to 30 September 2024 is £17.38 billion, significantly up from £13 billion for the six months to 30 September 2023. This was despite only a small increase in the number of civil compliance checks closed (168,000 compared to 162,000) so the yield per check must be increasing compared to last year. If this trend remains then HMRC will achieve a greater yield in future as the number of new civil compliance checks jumped from 154,000 in the six months to 30 September 2023 to 181,000 in the same period this year.
Dawn Register, Tax Dispute Resolution Partner at BDO said:
“The debt owed to HMRC is now a whopping £44.8 billion, up by £1.5bn from the last quarter. This shows the level of challenge facing HMRC’s Debt Management team as it tries to recoup tax debts from late payers.
“At the Autumn Budget, the chancellor announced that 1,800 debt staff would be ‘maintained and recruited’ over the next 5 years. Extra resource is urgently required – as is the modernisation of HMRC’s systems.
“It's particularly worrying that we are seeing the number of Time to Pay arrangements going down while the debt available for pursuit is increasing.
“HMRC’s late payment interest rates are currently set at the base rate plus 2.5 percentage points, meaning the rate from 26 November 2024 will be 7.25%. This is due to increase by an additional 1.5 percentage points above the base rate from 6 April 2025. Taxpayers should therefore pay what they can as soon as possible to mitigate the interest charges. Agreeing time to pay arrangements before HMRC takes steps like involving bailiffs or taking money from wages or bank accounts would also be a sensible step for those struggling to pay.
“Interestingly, as fraud remains a significant and persistent threat to business – and particularly large businesses - the number of fraud hotline tip offs increased to 79,176 in the six months to the end of September, up from 68,507 in the same period last year.”
ENDS
Note to editors
About BDOAccountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world.
The organisations we work with are Britain’s economic engine; entrepreneurially-spirited, high-growth businesses that fuel the economy.
We understand the ambitions and entrepreneurial mindset of those we work with and have the global reach, integrity and expertise to help people and businesses succeed.
BDO LLP
BDO LLP operates in 18 offices across the UK, employing 8,000 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP is the UK member firm of the BDO international network.
BDO’s global network
The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 166 countries and territories, with more than 115,000 people working out of 1,776 offices worldwide. It has revenues of US$14bn.
Contacts
Frank ShepherdEmail: frank.x.shepherd@bdo.co.uk
Tel: 07812 463601