HMRC has reversed its decision to axe its only office team offering tax services for customers in Welsh, and has announced that the staff are to relocate to Porthmadog
The current office in Ty Moelwyn is to close in the 2019-20 financial year. The 17 people currently based there will be co-locating with colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP’s) Thedford House site in early 2018.
Rachel McLean, director general of customer services, HMRC said: ‘This move is vital to the success of our plans to continue to provide Welsh language customer services from Porthmadog. It will also allow us to explore how we might develop those services with both DWP and other government departments in the future.’
UK government minister Guto Bebb said: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to secure the future for this vitally important UK Government office, which provides an essential service for Welsh speakers.’
HMRC’s workforce in Wales is currently spread throughout five offices, which range in size from around 2,750 people to fewer than 10.
Under its major office relocation plans, which will see local office staff moved into 13 regional hubs across the UK, HMRC will be closing five offices in Wales in total including Ty Moelwyn. Ty Nant in Swansea and Ty Glas and Brunel House in Cardiff will close in 2019-20, although there will be no estate changes until the regional centre in Cardiff opens. Plas Gororau in Wrexham will remain open until 2020-21.
