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'They want these moved into a new world environment,” said Checkley. “But after that, it’s very much up to developers.”'
Here speaks someone who is allowing the technology to drive the way it works instead of working out what is needed by customers and asking the developers to implement that.
Driving seat
Here speaks someone who is allowing the technology to drive the way it works instead of working out what is needed by customers and asking the developers to implement that.
I don't see it that way. Software developers have been asking their clients (accountants) what they want for years, but have been powerless to deliver since they have limited access to the data and services that the customer needs. In turn, the software developers have been telling HMRC what is needed, but HMRC have been following their own digital agenda, providing end-to-end solutions that are inflexible and costly.
Now HMRC have decided to concentrate on delivering a more comprehensive back-end solution that will not serve the end-user directly but will allow third party developers to provide a much larger range of functions to their users. Accountants will tell the third party developers what they want, and they will tell HMRC what they need from the APIs.
Speaking as a software developer, I think this will be beneficial to all.
It's about saving money
Let's be honest, the governemt just wants cheaper public services. The availability of APIs will make it easier for hmrc to pass on costs to the private sector
tail wagging dog?
not quite. App developers are in a competitive market, and consumers are happy to shop around (but perhaps not so happy to pay!).
Adopt or ignore
I tend to agree with Mr Reeves and Mr Checkley. It's up to us to tell our suppliers what we want out of this, for them to get that from HMRC and then to make it.
Also, it sounds like we can take what we want from it or ignore it. As I said in another thread, I'm interested in seeing where this goes.
Wrong priority at the moment ?
As Chair of the RTI stakeholder taskforce, I'd like to see HMRC lobbying for resourced to fix the data corruption inherent in those legacy systems first. There is no point building a 'new middle layer', an agent online service or digital tax accounts if the core data is fundamentally corrupted with duplicated records and an unstable ETMP accounting system as is the case at present. Having corrupt data delivered back to you is hardly good customer service however clever the technology is. Last week the Minister told accounting web: "I think that there will always be an issue with whatever system that you have. But a more transparent tax system does lend itself to higher quality
data. The problems emerge more quickly," Yes minister they will emerge more quickly so I hope your civil servants have been honest with you about the state of RTI data at present before you try to build on that foundation to deliver HMRC's systems of tomorrow but even more importantly welfare reform in the shape of universal credit for 8m people
Kate Upcraft AMBCS
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