HMRC Fetch data not fetching- not a question!

Why is HMRC not able to provide the data and what does this foretell for future IT projects

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I'm just filling in an SATR for a client. Not much to it, but the client has lost her private pension P60.  I go the Fetch Data (in TaxCalc).  It manages to show that she had class 1 earnings (figure shown) and class 2 due.  But there is no sign of the employment earnings in either the job that finished in the year, nor the new job, and no tax deducted figures, and nor is the private pension income and tax deducted present either. Obviously, the DWP pension figure is not there, although that does end up in the coding notices. The Fetch Data is marked as Beta, I think this was introduced with some fanfare about two or maybe three years ago. It isn't that I really need this, but is this compiled by human hand, and the human hand is WFH?  Surely not.  How will they cope with MTD if they cannot get this to work

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
30th Sep 2021 15:32

its a great idea but the data is not there in time, or at all so fails the "fit for purpose" test.

It would be nice if they could get that working before starting new projects.

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By Jo Nokes
30th Sep 2021 15:57

Following up my own question, is there a person or department in HMRC that takes ownership of this, and other projects, so we could write to complain, or make useful suggestions for improvements. I'm thinking now of that irritating PAYE Desktop viewer, another thing which I can manage but why should I have to? It's impossible to get rid of all the employers for whom I no longer act, nor can I add the name where it isn't shown (just the employer's reference).

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By rmillaree
30th Sep 2021 16:28

"Following up my own question, is there a person or department in HMRC that takes ownership of this, and other projects, so we could write to complain, or make useful suggestions for improvements."

Nope i recently complained ref missing vat returns as the guy who finds them has literally been processing the same isues for the last 3 years - like 30 a month every month.
HMRC wrote back apologising that it took them 5 months to sort blaming "individual error" then completely glossed over the fact that my complaint was that the issue should be fixed at some stage and that in the meantime the relevant department should be contactable so there was no black hole and that soemone should take charge of having some sort of plan + vat helpline not aware of issue so they tell bods who ring up we don't have your vat return which a complete "lie" not that tehy are necessarily knowingly lying if you know what i mean.

As soon as i spoke to relevant bod isue was fixed the next day - he rang me neither him nor department head are allowed to hand out contact details and they really arent given any useful contacts.

This wasnt minor problem as it it was an anual vat return on MTD with near 10k refund due - they are that hopeless that as far as the vat helpline are concerned the vat return was not submitted even though it showed up on my API data - tehy dont even flag up the known repeating issue to the vat helpline.

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By mbee1
01st Oct 2021 08:38

The fetch data has always been hit and miss - usually more miss than hit. I tried twice yesterday. The first time it was successful but the second time nothing! Once again shows HMRC is not fit for purpose.

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By SteveHa
01st Oct 2021 09:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it's because HMRC systems are disjointed and don't work.

If they want a system for the 21st century they need to rebuild it from the ground up, instead of trying to bolt bits on to the old, creaking systems that they have now.

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By Wanderer
01st Oct 2021 09:07

Agree. Unfortunately they don't even bolt on sometimes.
Look at the disjointed CGT residential property disposals which doesn't connect with the SA system.
It would have been better to to bolt on the CGT to SA but they didn't. They produced a standalone, impenetrable for some, system which we now have to jump through hoops & apply workarounds to to get past HMRC's IT incompetence.

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By Paul D Utherone
01st Oct 2021 09:43

I suspect that HMRC will just tell you that nothing will be available to 'fetch' until the annual PAYE reconciliation is completed, which has a deadline around now.

MTD for ITSA is just going to go swimmingly isn't it

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