The Agent Online Self Serve (AOSS) has been rebranded as Agent Services (AS), a new name which HMRC say better reflects the scope of what it aims to deliver under plans for new digital services for agents
The name change is part of the tax authority’s key priorities strategy for 2016/2017 to roll out universal digital tax accounts and will focus on four key delivery areas. The service was first announced in mid-2014 and has gone through extensive beta testing.
Now the change of name sees a new focus on four key issues to ensure that the new system, Agent Serve, is able to meet the needs of tax advisers and accountants liasing between clients and HMRC.
The first issue for HMRC is on-boarding, which will enable agents to access services and features contained in the personal and the business tax account using third party software which will give them the ability to see and do what their clients are able to through their tax accounts.
HMRC is also working on subscription, a process that will allow the department to collect data about a tax agency as part of its agent strategy. The authorisation strand of the work will enhance the existing online agent authorisation (OAA) service.
The final element is inbound secure messaging, where HMRC is undertaking work to understand what information agents want to send to HMRC and explore the digital solutions that can be used to cater for this requirement.
In June last year, HMRC launched a private beta service for AOSS allowing agents to view the PAYE liabilities and payments statements for employer clients. This is not available on the existing HMRC online services.
Initially, HMRC ran a survey to recruit agents in a trial of the beta service, but this has now closed.
ICAEW is reporting that agents are currently being recruited into the beta service through a trial of an automated system.
This identifies eligible agents (those with under 200 clients in any one tax regime) logging onto HMRC online services and offers them the opportunity to participate in the AOSS service.
There is a cap on the number that are recruited each day and eligible agents may get a message suggesting that they log on at a later date to sign up.
HMRC’s most recent agent update report encourages agents to get involved in the beta service by providing feedback on a series of slides showing prototype screens.
There will be an HMRC Talking Points digital meeting on AS developments on 19 May at 12 noon.
Screenshots of the latest HMRC Agent Services (AS) beta service screens are available via this link
