HMRC community forums

HMRC community forums

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so the HMRC community forums and knowledge base have arrived. is this likely to help or hinder small practices?

Replies (11)

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By vinylnobbynobbs
21st Nov 2019 11:01

I think they are a waste of time

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By Accountant A
21st Nov 2019 11:24

Hey, don't knock it. If it keeps the freeloading cretins off here, it will be worth it.

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Replying to Accountant A:
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By vinylnobbynobbs
21st Nov 2019 11:31

True but it is the agent section to which I was referring.

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Replying to vinylnobbynobbs:
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By Accountant A
21st Nov 2019 13:00

vinylnobbynobbs wrote:

True but it is the agent section to which I was referring.

Ah, sorry. I wasn't even aware of it until I saw teh question. I assumed it was to "help" taxpayers.

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Replying to Accountant A:
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By CherryPicker
19th Oct 2023 14:48

Are accountants asking questions freeloading cretins?

Do accountants ever receive free advice on medical issues at a pharmacy?
If they do are they cretins?

When an accountant uses such terms it is one that a client knows not to to use on a fee paying basis. They tend to go to those who are polite and helpful and stay away from the obnoxious ones who seem to have a chip on their shoulder.

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boat
By SouthCoastAcc
21st Nov 2019 11:52

I signed up but it looks dead

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Replying to SouthCoastAcc:
By Paul D Utherone
21st Nov 2019 13:15

not dead, but not busy

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By Paul D Utherone
21st Nov 2019 13:14

The Agent Forum is at best OK, but:

- threads get locked immediately an answer is posted given no chance for follow up if the question has not really been answered
- HMRC often take the politician's approach and answer the question they want to answer, not what was actually asked
- Queries often get 'passed to the relevant business stream' and for too long the only additions to the thread are requests for an update on progress
- Queries are often closed as not a problem for lack of evidence of a widespread issue.

It is at least a conduit, and if points are made / appear regularly then one might hope that the message might get through.

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Replying to Paul D Utherone:
Lone Wolf
By Lone_Wolf
21st Nov 2019 17:13

Agree with this. I signed up for the agent forum earlier in the year hoping it would be useful, but quickly found it was very much like you say. I don't even bother reading the emails they send now.

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Lone Wolf
By Lone_Wolf
21st Nov 2019 17:29

I've just had a wee nosy at this and have found dud advice from HMRC already. I've signed up and posted the correct advice, but my comment is waiting the approval of the HMRC moderator. What's the chances it never makes it to the poor taxpayer?

Could be a good read just to see what rubbish HMRC come away with.

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By vinylnobbynobbs
22nd Nov 2019 08:22

I was a member of the Working Together group in Leeds which worked rather well. However, it worked too well so that is why I believe HMRC closed down the meetings. Using the online forum HMRC can answer what they choose to answer, usually by not answering a point raised by censoring debate by closing down threads and generally exerting Big Brother control.
I have yet to find anything of use in the forum.

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