Nunn: listen and learn HMRC

Yvette Nunn, director of Berkeley Associates, welcomes the government's decison to delay HMRC’s Making Tax Digital project implementation until 2020, except for VAT, so that small businesses and landlords have more time to prepare, but warns that there are fundamental problems with current HMRC IT systems which need to be addressed

While digitisation might be the way forward in a modern world, any system which is mandated must not be at the expense of reasonableness, nor without full and proper testing, and should allow enough time for businesses to adapt.

The convenience of government should not be at any cost to those forced to comply, either against their will, level of competency or affordability.

Many larger businesses and landlords will want to ‘go digital’ as soon as they are able, as they already have the technology. On the other hand, those without digital means, those concerned by cyber security and those who will have to pay for help that they can ill afford should be allowed the time to get ready.

As has been said before, if digitisation is so good, most will want to embrace it, let us see that happen.

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