Accountants RSM have argued errors in HM Revenue & Customs self-assessment software, which resulted in taxpayers having to reclaim overpayments, illustrate the need for independent quality control.
George Bull, senior tax partner at RSM, said recent errors in an online tax form provided by the Ministry of Justice for use in connection with divorces showed the need for outside scrutiny were far from isolated.
He said: “Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, this is not an isolated example of the problem. For example, recent errors in HMRC’s income tax self-assessment software meant that a number of clients overpaid tax which we subsequently had to reclaim from HMRC on their behalf.
“If the standard set by HMRC is incorrect, all tax returns software will be wrong in that respect. This suggests a fundamental gap in the quality control of the publication of online forms by the Ministry of Justice, by HMRC and potentially by other government departments.
“This is a matter which requires attention now as citizens are increasingly required to complete online forms because no other means of ‘interaction’ with ‘government service providers’ is permitted.”
This is a matter which requires attention now as citizens are increasingly required to complete online forms because no other means of ‘interaction’ with ‘government service providers’ is permitted.Mr Bull said an independent body was needed to check the logic in online forms produced by all government departments to ensure that it is correct and in line with the law.
He said: “All citizens, and the commercial software companies who are so important in helping citizens discharge their digital duties to the state, can then have confidence that they are working on firm foundations.”
But a HMRC spokesperson said self-assessment online was working well and record numbers of taxpayers have already sent in their returns.
He said: “For a brief period last year the part of the self assessment calculator which works out taxpayer adjusted net income did not work as it should for a very small number of people.
“The problem has been fixed and no one will be disadvantaged.
“We very much regret any incovenience caused.”
RSM’s Mr Bull said at the very least, it should be possible to file a computation on line, even if it does not accord with HMRC’s software, adding the tax collectors would lose nothing because, if the tax figure was subsequently found to be wrong, interest would be recoverable.
He said with HMRC driving the introduction of online digital accounts, a form of ‘real time information’ for the self-employed, and accelerated payment of income tax and capital gains taxes by many, it is absolutely essential everybody can trust the software behind the tax calculations.
Robert Lewis, director of North Wales-based Heritage Financial Solutions, said: “Online errors in government forms is nothing new. We have helped dozens of clients over the years overcome issues they’ve found after an online form led them astray.
“Just like in our own business we run all our brochures/forms across our compliance department, large part it just to proof check the documents and that logic prevails. Only makes sense that government departments adopt a smiling approach.”
Steven Robinson, managing director at Bristol-based Clarke Robinson & Co, said that when human beings write software then errors will occur.
He said: “When computers become self-perpetuating and write their own software the errors will in time evolve out of the system.
“And by that time computers won’t need us. In the meantime having a standards or test board to make sure errors are reduced sounds like a good idea.”
ruth.gillbe@ft.com
