HMRC Dual Agent?

Is it possible for a client to have more than one agent for the same tax?

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As it says above, it is possible for a client to have dual agents for a single tax?

A situation has arisen where a client wants to have us and another firm as agent for Corporation Tax.  If we use the usual online 64-8 process than when the second agent is appointed I understand that the original agent is (should be?) replaced.  We don't particularly want this to happen.

This situation must arise routinely for the likes of the R&D tax credit outfits.

I can't for the life of me find the HMRC agent services phone number anywhere to give them a call to ask.  Does anyone have any ideas if this is possible, and if so how to go about doing it?

Thanks

Replies (14)

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RLI
By lionofludesch
29th Nov 2019 13:28

Not possible, so far as I know.

Why would you want that, any road ? It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

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By bernard michael
29th Nov 2019 14:06

0300 200 3311 is the agents number

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By johnhemming
29th Nov 2019 14:13

AIUI there is only an option for one agents as far as HMRC are concerned. There is the complexity that the 64-8 system and the ASA system are not directly connected in that changing the ASA agent does not change the 64-8 agent, but that only affects VAT and ITSA at the moment.

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Replying to Desert Orchid:
RLI
By lionofludesch
29th Nov 2019 16:32

Desert Orchid wrote:

Possible Yes.....


Really, Dessie ?
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Replying to lionofludesch:
By Ruddles
29th Nov 2019 19:25

Anything is possible in his world.

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Replying to Desert Orchid:
By Ruddles
29th Nov 2019 20:19

Thanks. That should just about do it.

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Replying to Desert Orchid:
By Ruddles
30th Nov 2019 09:49

You obviously haven’t found the reply notification function yet, even after all these years.

But talking of proof ...

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Replying to Desert Orchid:
By Ruddles
30th Nov 2019 16:24

You ought to be on the stage as a comedian, as you clearly get a kick out of people laughing at you.

It’s time for you to follow Unai out of the door.

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By Cazzie B
29th Nov 2019 16:58

Paper 64-8, fill in as normal and write R & D ONLY in the outside margin next to the UTR.

Works here as we do some R & D claims, for companies that are not clients. only get removed, if the client changes accountant. Then have to do again.

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Replying to Cazzie B:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
29th Nov 2019 19:36

Knowing HMRC, I have to say that I’m shocked that that works!

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By lesley.barnes
29th Nov 2019 20:06

I wouldn't want to share access with another agent. There is no accountability if anything went wrong. If someone made a mistake or altered figures how would you prove who was responsible? I don't think there is any audit trail built into the system.

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Replying to lesley.barnes:
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By johnhemming
30th Nov 2019 09:09

MTD (for VAT and ITSA) has an audit trail, but it requires low level access to systems to get at it. I would assume any online HMRC submission system also has some logging to work out which gateway was used to submit something. It sort of goes without saying that this is essential.

HMRC, however, appear to only expect one agent in the sense that putting a new agent's details in replaces the old details.

Personally I would think that is the right approach. If there was a situation where there were multiple agents for the same function one would expect them to be coordinated in some way. I can see the argument for separating out R&D CT, but it is an area that is potentially fraught with conflict.

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Psycho
By Wilson Philips
29th Nov 2019 20:12

The immediate question is - why?

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By whitevanman
30th Nov 2019 00:02

I dont think there is any reason why you cannot have multiple agents acting, but, as some have commented, why would the client, or indeed adviser, want this. There must be clear demarcation for accountability etc otherwise, potentially, anarchy rules.
That said, the automatic 64-8 process cannot cope with this (as far as I am aware). If you send a new 64-8 it will probably, cancel the previous one.
If, for example, an agent is appointed to deal with (say) R&D and another is dealing with all other aspects, it is preferable to write to HMRC giving the details and written authority so that, if necessary HMRC can liaise direct with the R&D specialist. Ive never tried it but should have thought that simply sending a 64-8 noted "R&D only" would confuse their system, resulting in the inevitable raft of problems.

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