New guidance from HMRC highlights the preliminary Steps you need to take before registering as a professional tax agent.

The guidance emphasises that before starting the process of registering with HMRC as a tax agent, agents need to:

• register for anti-money laundering supervision;
• register the agent’s own business with HMRC; and
• meet HMRC’s standard for agents.

The Tax Faculty has asked HMRC to clarify how the guidance applies to overseas agents. The guidance says: “If you’re based outside the UK, you must comply with the business registration requirements in that country.”

The faculty understands that it is sufficient for overseas agents to meet the business registration and other applicable supervision requirements of the country they are based in, but this needs to be confirmed.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty has also suggested that the section “Consider becoming a member of a professional body” would be more helpful if it highlighted the need to comply with the requirements of any relevant professional body, including Professional conduct in relation to taxation.

Feedback from members highlights the need for clear guidance from HMRC that covers situations where agents merge, or change their legal structure or designatory details such as address. This issue is being taken up with HMRC.

Please contact caroline.miskin@icaew.com with any comments on the guidance or agent registration processes.

Further resources

• New guidance on agent authorisations and updating ASA details