Gill Aitken is to become HMRC's general counsel and solicitor, succeeding Anthony Inglese who is retiring at the end of January after six years in the post.

Aitken is director general of legal services at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), where she has led the lawyers at both the DWP and Department of Health, as well as at DWP's professional services (analysis, communications, and medical).

HMRC chief executive Lin Homer said: 'The Solicitor's Office plays a vital role in supporting HMRC to collect the tax that is due, from providing legal advice on complex issues to our tax professionals to pursuing legal challenges in tax tribunals. Gill will build on the strengths of our legal expertise and successes.'