The Tax Office

Who are the Inland Revenue, and what do they do?

The Inland Revenue was the old body that had to look after income tax, national insurance, capital gains tax, inheritance tax for individuals, and the business tax as well. A few years ago, they were amalgamated with customs and excise. That was the tax collector which looked after VAT, customs duties, and excise duties. As a result, we now have a new department called HM Revenue and Customs, and they look after all the taxes in the UK.

Who are HM Revenue and Customs, and what do they do?

HM Revenue and Customs are the government department which look after the collection of all the taxes in the UK. And the money that they collect goes into the treasury coffers, and is spent for public purposes in the UK.

My circumstances have changed, do I need to tell the Tax Office?

Generally the answer is yes. For example, if you have received tax credit and your circumstances have changed, you need to tell the tax office so that they don't pay you the wrong amount of credit. If you cease to be employed then your employer would have given you a P45 to mark the ending of the employment. You need to keep it and have it ready when you go to another job, or if you become self employed to send it into the tax man at the end of the year with your tax return. You also need to tell the tax man if your circumstances have changed, for example if you leave the UK or if you just arrived in the UK or begin to work here for the first time.