Summary
- • HMRC collected £731.1 billion in tax revenues in 2021-22
- • Income Tax receipts were £213.9 billion in 2021-22
- • VAT receipts were £157.3 billion in 2021-22
- • Corporation Tax receipts were £68.4 billion in 2021-22
- • National Insurance Contributions were £158.0 billion in 2021-22
- • Fuel Duty receipts were £26.2 billion in 2021-22
- • Capital Gains Tax receipts were £14.3 billion in 2021-22
- • Inheritance Tax receipts were £6.1 billion in 2021-22
- • Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts were £14.1 billion in 2021-22
- • HMRC had 64,000 full-time equivalent employees as of March 2022
- • 56% of HMRC employees were female in 2021-22
- • 13.9% of HMRC employees were from ethnic minority backgrounds in 2021-22
- • 12.9% of HMRC employees declared a disability in 2021-22
- • HMRC's median gender pay gap was 7.3% in 2021
- • HMRC's staff engagement score was 57% in 2021
Hold onto your wallets, because were diving headfirst into the dazzling world of HMRC statistics! From the jaw-dropping £731.1 billion in tax revenues collected in 2021-22 to the nitty-gritty details of HMRCs operational efficiency and impact, this financial rollercoaster ride is about to take you on a wild journey through numbers that will make even the most seasoned accountant do a double-take. So buckle up, because were about to make tax talk trendy!
Brexit and Customs
- HMRC processed 1.3 million customs declarations per day in 2021-22
- HMRC collected £2.2 billion in customs duties in 2021-22
- HMRC registered 160,000 businesses for the new Customs Declaration Service
- HMRC issued 145,000 Economic Operator Registration and Identification numbers
- HMRC handled 1.8 million customs-related customer queries in 2021-22
- HMRC recruited 5,000 additional staff to support post-Brexit customs operations
Interpretation
In a whirlwind of fiscal finagling and bureaucratic ballet, HMRC pirouetted through 1.3 million customs declarations per day in the fiscal year 2021-22, resulting in a dazzling collection of £2.2 billion in customs duties. With the grace and precision of a well-oiled machine, HMRC choreographed the registration of 160,000 businesses for the new Customs Declaration Service and issued 145,000 Economic Operator Registration and Identification numbers, all while maintaining rhythm through handling 1.8 million customs-related queries. Undeterred by the complexity of the dance, HMRC recruited 5,000 additional staff to ensure that post-Brexit customs operations continued to perform flawlessly. Truly a display of fiscal agility and administrative artistry, HMRC waltzed through the challenges of a changing world with finesse and flair.
COVID-19 Response
- HMRC administered £81.2 billion in COVID-19 support schemes in 2021-22
- HMRC supported 11.7 million jobs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- HMRC provided £27.7 billion in support to 2.9 million self-employed individuals
- HMRC deferred VAT payments worth £33.5 billion for 2.7 million businesses
- HMRC introduced 80 COVID-19 related tax policy changes in 2021-22
- HMRC redeployed 8,000 staff to support COVID-19 response efforts
Interpretation
In a whirlwind year of uncertainty and upheaval, HMRC emerged as the Robin Hood of the pandemic, administering a staggering £81.2 billion in COVID-19 support schemes to keep the economic ship afloat. Supporting over 11.7 million jobs with the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and providing a financial lifeline to 2.9 million self-employed individuals, HMRC proved that when the going gets tough, the tough get tax savvy. With VAT payments worth a whopping £33.5 billion deferred and 80 COVID-19 tax policy changes flexing their bureaucratic muscles, HMRC certainly pulled out all the stops. Let's not forget the 8,000 staff members who were redeployed to the front lines of the pandemic response, showing that sometimes, taxes do come with a side of heroism.
Compliance and Enforcement
- HMRC identified £30.8 billion of compliance yield in 2021-22
- HMRC secured 185 prosecutions for tax crimes in 2021-22
- HMRC's tax gap estimate for 2020-21 was 5.1% of total theoretical tax liabilities
- HMRC issued 142,000 penalties for failure to file tax returns on time in 2021-22
- HMRC conducted 278,000 compliance checks in 2021-22
- HMRC recovered £5.8 billion from tackling tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance in 2021-22
Interpretation
In a dazzling display of financial wizardry, HMRC uncovered a whopping £30.8 billion in compliance yield last year – enough to make even the most seasoned tax evader break a sweat. With 185 tax crime prosecutions under their belt, HMRC is not afraid to wield the gavel of justice against wrongdoers. Despite their best efforts, a tax gap estimate of 5.1% still looms large, serving as a sly reminder that some may always try to slip through the cracks. Issuing penalties left and right (142,000 to be exact) for tardy tax filers, HMRC proves they're not to be trifled with. With 278,000 compliance checks completed, it's clear they have their magnifying glasses trained on all corners of the tax realm. And let's not forget their impressive haul of £5.8 billion from hunting down tax dodgers – a testament to their unwavering commitment to ensuring the taxman always gets his due.
Customer Service
- HMRC answered 74.6% of customer calls within 10 minutes in 2021-22
- HMRC's average speed of answering calls was 8 minutes and 45 seconds in 2021-22
- HMRC handled 39.7 million phone calls in 2021-22
- HMRC received 4.9 million items of customer correspondence in 2021-22
- HMRC's customer satisfaction score for digital services was 85.1% in 2021-22
- HMRC's overall customer satisfaction score was 82.0% in 2021-22
Interpretation
In a year of juggling millions of calls and letters like a fiscal Cirque du Soleil, HMRC managed to keep the show running relatively smoothly, answering 3 out of 4 calls within 10 minutes and boasting an average response time faster than a microwave popcorn cycle. With a customer satisfaction score higher than most Hollywood blockbuster sequels, it seems HMRC is not just crunching numbers but also winning hearts in the digital domain. So, next time you dial their digits or drop them a line, remember, tax affairs may be complex, but the customer service game is a well-rehearsed act.
Digital Transformation
- HMRC's digital services had 456 million customer interactions in 2021-22
- 89% of tax returns were submitted online in 2021-22
- HMRC's mobile app was used by 3.5 million customers in 2021-22
- HMRC's digital services achieved 98.9% availability in 2021-22
- HMRC completed 15 major digital transformation projects in 2021-22
- HMRC's Making Tax Digital for VAT had 1.6 million businesses signed up by March 2022
Interpretation
In a digital dance of numbers and efficiency, HMRC flaunts its prowess with style and substance in the fiscal year of 2021-22. With 456 million customer interactions, HMRC's digital services waltzed through the online realm, seducing 89% of tax returns to be submitted virtually. The mobile app proved to be the new heartthrob, wooing 3.5 million customers with its convenience. With a near-flawless availability rate of 98.9%, HMRC emerges as the digital maestro of the tax realm. Completing 15 major transformation projects, HMRC proves that evolution is not just a buzzword but a way of life. And with 1.6 million businesses embracing the Making Tax Digital for VAT, the tax landscape witnesses a technological revolution that is nothing short of exhilarating.
Financial Performance
- HMRC's total departmental expenditure was £4.7 billion in 2021-22
- HMRC's cost of collection ratio was 0.64 pence per pound in 2021-22
- HMRC achieved £1.4 billion in efficiency savings in 2021-22
- HMRC's capital investment was £725 million in 2021-22
- HMRC's IT running costs were £860 million in 2021-22
- HMRC's estates costs were £247 million in 2021-22
Interpretation
HMRC's financial report reads like a complex Sudoku puzzle where every penny counts. With a cost of collection ratio at a lean 0.64 pence per pound and £1.4 billion in efficiency savings, it's clear that the taxman knows how to stretch a pound. While splurging £860 million on IT running costs may raise some eyebrows, their capital investment of £725 million signals a commitment to staying ahead in the digital game. And let's not forget the £247 million spent on estates, because even the taxman needs a roof over his head. In the end, HMRC's expenditure of £4.7 billion in the fiscal year is a reminder that even in the world of taxes, every pound saved is a pound earned.
Fraud Prevention
- HMRC prevented £1.4 billion of fraudulent tax credit claims in 2021-22
- HMRC identified and prevented £6.1 billion of tax fraud in 2021-22
- HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service recovered £5.1 billion in 2021-22
- HMRC seized £218 million worth of illicit goods in 2021-22
- HMRC disrupted 338 organised crime groups in 2021-22
- HMRC prevented £1.2 billion in fraudulent COVID-19 support scheme claims in 2021-22
Interpretation
In a surprising display of vigilance and tenacity, HMRC emerged as the ultimate fraud-fighting superhero in 2021-22, thwarting a staggering array of devious schemes with a total swoop of £8.7 billion saved from the clutches of wrongdoers. From unraveling fraudulent tax credit claims to seizing illicit goods and dismantling organized crime groups, HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service showcased an impressive blend of Sherlock Holmes's deduction skills and Batman's crime-fighting prowess. With a resounding "Pow!" and a determined glare, HMRC not only protected the taxpayers' funds but also sent a clear message to wrongdoers that their days of financial mischief are numbered.
Tax Administration
- HMRC processed 12.1 million Self Assessment tax returns in 2021-22
- 93.5% of Self Assessment tax returns were filed online in 2021-22
- HMRC processed 31.4 million PAYE tax codes in 2021-22
- HMRC issued 6.2 million tax refunds in 2021-22
- HMRC registered 810,000 new businesses for tax in 2021-22
- HMRC processed 2.1 million new Tax Credits and Child Benefit claims in 2021-22
Interpretation
In a world where we can summon a ride with a tap on our phones and have groceries delivered by drones, it seems only fitting that tax season should also enter the digital age. With 93.5% of Self Assessment tax returns filed online in 2021-22, HMRC is proving that even the most dreaded of annual rituals can be streamlined with just a few clicks. As they processed a staggering 12.1 million returns, issued 6.2 million tax refunds, registered 810,000 new businesses, and handled 2.1 million new benefit claims, it's clear that technology is not just transforming the way we live, but also the way we interact with the taxman. It may not make taxes fun, but at least it's making them a little less taxing.
Tax Collection
- HMRC collected £731.1 billion in tax revenues in 2021-22
- Income Tax receipts were £213.9 billion in 2021-22
- VAT receipts were £157.3 billion in 2021-22
- Corporation Tax receipts were £68.4 billion in 2021-22
- National Insurance Contributions were £158.0 billion in 2021-22
- Fuel Duty receipts were £26.2 billion in 2021-22
- Capital Gains Tax receipts were £14.3 billion in 2021-22
- Inheritance Tax receipts were £6.1 billion in 2021-22
- Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts were £14.1 billion in 2021-22
Interpretation
In a dazzling display of fiscal prowess, HMRC raked in a staggering £731.1 billion in tax revenues in the financial year 2021-22, proving once again that the only things certain in life are death, taxes, and perhaps a few heated debates over the legality of tax avoidance schemes. Income Tax receipts reached a formidable £213.9 billion, signaling that the age-old tradition of grumbling about taxes while begrudgingly paying them is alive and well. Meanwhile, VAT receipts of £157.3 billion showcased the nation's unwavering dedication to buying things we may or may not need. With Corporation Tax, National Insurance Contributions, and an eclectic mix of other taxes contributing to the mammoth figure, it's clear that the UK treasury is not afraid to pull out all the stops when it comes to collecting those precious pounds. In the dance of fiscal responsibility and governmental coffers, HMRC remains the unrivaled maestro, conducting the symphony of tax revenues with finesse and a touch of bureaucracy.
Workforce
- HMRC had 64,000 full-time equivalent employees as of March 2022
- 56% of HMRC employees were female in 2021-22
- 13.9% of HMRC employees were from ethnic minority backgrounds in 2021-22
- 12.9% of HMRC employees declared a disability in 2021-22
- HMRC's median gender pay gap was 7.3% in 2021
- HMRC's staff engagement score was 57% in 2021
Interpretation
The latest HMRC statistics reveal a workforce that is progressively diverse, yet still navigating disparities in gender representation, ethnicity, and disability disclosure. With more female employees than ever and a commendable but improvable percentage of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds, the tax authority is on a path towards inclusivity. However, a slightly bumpy road is evident in the median gender pay gap of 7.3% and a muted staff engagement score of 57%, suggesting room for improvement in equality and overall workplace satisfaction. As HMRC continues to crunch numbers, perhaps a recalibration of its own internal equations is in order to ensure optimal balance and harmony within its ranks.
