Deloitte tax director Philip Paur is one of four people to have been recognised for their efforts towards making the UK's tax system simpler and more transparent.

Paur's contribution to the development and delivery of HMRC's policy and operational delivery on expatriate taxes has been recognised with an HMRC external engagement award.

Other tax award winners this year include Karen Thomson, who is associate director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals and member of HMRC's Administrative Burdens Advisory Board, for her help in ensuring that the impact of Real Time Information (RTI) on employers and their payroll processes was minimal.

Brian Palmer, a past president of the Association of Accounting Technicians, wins an award for his dedication to transparency, including being instrumental in driving HMRC's decision to publish information about post and contact centre performance.

The final winner is the public protection division of Blackpool Council, for its support of the Blackpool holiday industry taskforce launched in July 2013.

David Gauke, Treasury secretary, said: 'There is some excellent work going on between HMRC and the tax community. By listening to and working with tax professionals HMRC can make the tax system in the UK as simple and transparent as possible.'

The award winners were chosen by their peers in the tax community, based on three criteria: commitment, customer focus and clarity.