In recent minutes from a meeting involving HMRC’s wealthy team, which focuses on the personal tax affairs of individuals with higher levels of income or assets, it was highlighted that it would like certain taxpayers to include more detailed information on their returns.

Specifically, HMRC would like such information to be made via a voluntary disclosure of information in the ‘any other information’ box of a tax return. This is a practice commonly referred to as a ‘white space disclosure’.

Matt Taylor, private client tax partner at RSM, said: ‘For many taxpayers who prepare and submit their tax returns themselves, this request for additional information may seem innocuous.

‘A ‘white space disclosure’ can potentially be helpful to both HMRC and the taxpayer. In short, it gives an opportunity to provide an officer with more information relating to the entries on the return.

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