HMRC chief executive Lin Homer is to leave in April, after four years in the top role, but has said she is not immediately seeking a new position
A replacement has not been named but HMRC has confirmed that the recruitment process is now underway and more details will be provided in due course.
Homer’s time at HMRC has attracted some controversy, as the period has included criticism of the tax authority by MPs and the National Audit Office for continuing low levels of customer service, as well as its failure to take action over the leaked names of UK taxpayers who had sought to avoid tax by using offshore accounts with HSBC’s Swiss private bank.
She has been called up before the influential Public Accounts Committee on a regular basis, not only to defend HMRC but also to explain some of the more questionable tax arrangements made with companies, global profit shifting and the Swiss private accounts leaks.
Homer has also presided over HMRC’s switch to digital working, which saw a major shake up of tax offices at the end of last year, in a move to consolidate services into 13 regional centres.
Homer said: ‘After ten years as a chief executive and permanent secretary in the Civil Service, the start of the next Spending Review period seemed to be a sensible time to move on.
‘HMRC has secured ministerial support and funding for our ambitious transformation programme and it has the leadership team in place to deliver it. My successor will be able to put their full weight behind seeing the transformation through to 2020.
‘It has been a privilege to have been with HMRC during a period when the improved performance of the Department has been increasingly recognised and we have the full backing of ministers for our future plans.’
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said: ‘Lin Homer has made a real contribution to public service modernisation and transformation. She has put the foundations in place that will see HMRC become one of the most digitally-advanced tax authorities in the world.
‘It is to Lin’s great credit that the National Audit Office last year judged HMRC to be one of the strongest departments in Government – a legacy of which she can be rightly proud.’
Homer has confirmed that she is not currently actively seeking her next role and intends to take a break over the summer.
In a statement to staff Homer said: ‘I will be fully sensitive to the responsibility and care that senior HMRC officials should take when considering the appropriateness of potential roles and organisations.’
A lawyer by training, Homer’s 36 year career in public service has included roles as chief executive of the UK Border Agency (2008-11) and the Border and Immigration Agency (2005-08). In local government, she was chief executive of Birmingham City Council (2002-05) and Suffolk County Council (1998-2002).
