HMRC will provide £4.5 million over the next three years (that is, £1.5 million per year for three years) for VCSE organisations to provide advice and support to HMRC customers who need extra help understanding and complying with their tax obligations.
Grants will range from £10,000 to £450,000 with a maximum threshold set at 50% of the organisation’s turnover (last audited accounts).
Registered charities, voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprises, mutual and co-operatives based in the UK with an income exceeding £40,000 a year can apply.
Organisations must be able to help HMRC customers that are hard to reach and who cannot or will not interact directly with HMRC either due to culture, language, trust, or geography, and who display one or more of the following characteristics:
- Experience difficulties accessing HMRC services, due to illness, disability or digital exclusion.
- Lack confidence, and are overly worried about making mistakes or are new to HMRC services.
- Lack the ability to deal with tasks, for example, due to learning difficulties, memory problems, lack of language skills to be able to understand the tax system, complex working situations or several income strands.
- Have mental health issues or are suffering extreme distress through life events, such as bereavement or the breakdown of a relationship.
Proposals will need to show how the applying organisation can support customers in these groups or any combination of these groups.
The guidance notes can be found on the GOV.UK website.website. Organisations that are confident that they meet all the criteria may request an application from HMRC by sending an email to mailbox.stakeholder@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
The deadline for applications is 8 November 2015.
