Government departments are continuing to make progress in improving the quality and timeliness of their accounts which they submit for audit. However, according to head of the National Audit Office Sir John Bourn, a large number of departments will need to make significant further effort if they are to meet the Treasury’s timetable for the […]
The Department has stemmed the fall in the percentage of people filing their tax returns by the deadline, so that just over 90 per cent file their returns by the end of January each year, according to the National Audit Office. However, an estimated £1.1 billion of income tax was outstanding from 1.1 million overdue […]
This report provides a summary of the UK government’s response to COVID-19 to date.
The National Audit Office has today backed HM Revenue and Customs’ assessment that the overall risk to VAT revenue from on-line shopping, or e-commerce, is currently low. The Department has been alert to specific areas of risk which have emerged and is well-positioned to tackle these. As activity increases in this fast changing environment, it […]
This page is part of our decision support tool. What is meant by the term ‘third sector organisation’ (TSO)? Organisations are traditionally divided on the basis of‘private’ or ‘public’, and ‘for-profit’ or ‘not-for-profit’.Organisations which are established on a not-for-profit basis, and which are not directly controlled by the state (not part of the public sector) […]
Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of the National Audit Office, has reported on the 2017-18 accounts of HM Revenue & Customs. His report focuses on tax revenue; Personal Tax Credits and Child Benefit error and fraud; and HMRC’s digital transformation programme.
This page is part of our successful commissioning toolkit. Accountability is the obligation to explain to someone how well you have met your responsibilities. Those responsibilities may be for the outcome of a programme or the custody and use of assets (such as goods, intellectual property, land and buildings, people and money). Such an obligation may […]
This investigation describes the scheme’s purpose and how it functions, performance to date, and how government manages value-for-money risks.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, today published a report on the Inland Revenue’s accounts for the year 2004-2005. The Inland Revenue collected some £256.9 billion in the year. Sir John confirmed that overall the Inland Revenue continued to secure an effective check over the assessment, collection and allocation of tax during the year. […]
The management of Corporation Tax by HM Revenue and Customs’ Area offices has improved in recent years, according to the National Audit Office. However, the variations in performance across offices offer scope for further savings in the costs of managing the tax and generating additional tax revenue. The Department’s Area offices administer Corporation Tax for […]
It will be difficult for government departments to achieve value for money from means-tested benefits unless government understands the impacts of means testing, learns from past experience and improves coordination between different benefits.
The Inland Revenue has in recent years improved the way it checks compliance with Inheritance Tax. It has also done a great deal to reduce the burden on those who have to sort out the tax affairs of an estate when someone dies. Today’s report from head of the NAO Sir John Bourn highlights ways […]
This report examines the effectiveness of the government’s approach to reducing childhood obesity in England.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has reported on the 2018-19 accounts of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Clarification Point 2 in the C&AG introduction (page 26), should read: “From April 2003 an additional one per cent National Insurance contribution has been collected and allocated directly to the National Health Service, bringing the total payments to the NHS to some £16.8 billion in 2004-2005 (£14.9 billion in 2003-2004).” Head of the National Audit […]
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, today published a report on the Inland Revenue’s accounts for the year 2003-04. Sir John confirmed that overall the Inland Revenue continued to secure an effective check over the assessment, collection and allocation of tax during the year. However, he has qualified his opinion in respect of Tax […]
This investigation explores government’s funding to charities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, today reported the results of his examination of HM Customs and Excises systems for the assessment, collection and allocation of tax revenue during the year ending 31 March 2004. In 2003-04 Customs collected £162 billion (gross) in taxes and duties. Sir John’s report focuses on Customs’ […]