Jackie Hall ACA CTA, partner at RSM on pre-population service delay hits tax agents, rise in auto enrolment pension contributions, beneficial register of interests for trusts must be accurate
Pre-population service delay hits tax agents
HMRC has further delayed the rollout of pre-population APIs (application programming interfaces) which allow accountants and tax agents using tax software products to access client data when completing self assessment returns.
In early January, without warning, HMRC delayed the launch of the service until after the 31 January 2018 self assessment deadline, despite an HMRC agent update on 12 December indicating that the new API would be available ‘shortly’.
The APIs, which have been trialled by software developers since April 2017, allow access to client data including employments, PAYE income and deductions, taxable benefits, Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and marriage allowance.
