Access to PAYE records online

The Working Together discussion group looked a while ago at getting access to client PAYE records online - particularly payment details. In view of the new penalties for late in-year payments you may regard this is important.

The response we got from HMRC was that there were proposals for providing access to payment history for agents but that this would be by requesting a printout to be sent. It would seem that even that somewhat unsatisfactory option is not going to be available anytime soon due to lack of funding.

What do you think about this? Is it sufficiently important to be worth lobbying for. If you could comment below, and those who do think it is an issue could ask their professional body to take this up for them. That way we should get a lot of responses and then try and get a head of steam up.