As part of the push to move all HMRC services to purely digital online delivery, the tax authorities have published a demographic review of paid tax agents based on their digital needs and attitudes, and the support they will require to transition to digital
The research found that there is a large appetite among agents to engage with HMRC digitally (with 90% of businesses seeing a benefit to digital services).
However, two thirds (66%) of agents have some concerns about using HMRC’s digital services, and the majority would want at least some support, with just 7% saying that they would require none.
As some of the barriers to using digital services tend to vary by segment, adoption could be promoted by focusing on the functionality of the services, which would be of the greatest benefit to each part of the profession.
It is hoped that the research will shape HMRC’s development of future online services and identify ways to support agents’ transition to digital.
The research surveyed 1,700 agents and included qualitative interviews and focus groups with 54 agents, and was carried out between March and August 2014.
The research document is available at www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387869/Report348.pdf