HMRC To Create Pleasure Craft Unit Of Expertise

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

23 May 2007

At a recent liaison meeting between HM Revenue & Customs and the UK's pleasure craft associations, HMRC announced that it would shortly be creating a new Pleasure Craft Unit of Expertise (UoE) to support its operational and National Advice Service (NAS) staff.

The UK tax authority believes that the new unit will help improve working relations between HMRC and the yachting/pleasure craft community, and in particular, will lead to better quality communications and Public Notices about yacht issues.

The UoE, which will operate out of offices at Portsmouth and Avonmouth, will commence operations on 1 June 2007.

The main role of the new Unit will be to provide operational and technical advice, training and support to HMRC staff who deal with the pleasure craft sector around the UK. The Unit will also actively support HMRC staff who work in the NAS.

This should result in the provision of better quality and more consistent advice to businesses and members of the public who use the National Advice Service.

In its first few months the UoE will seek to develop effective working relationships with the yachting associations, so that HMRC has a better informed understanding of the issues that are of concern or interest to the yacht and pleasure craft community.

However, HMRC pointed out that the UoE will not provide a general helpline to businesses or members of the public.

At the meeting, HMRC expressed the hope that the creation of the new Unit would be of benefit to both the tax administration and members of the yachting community as a whole.

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