Officers Urge Taxi and Private Hire Drivers to Complete Tax Check as HMRC System Goes LIVE
Licensing officers at Worcestershire Regulatory Services are urging licensees to complete an online tax check which, from 4th April 2022, will be mandatory to renew a license to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle. The tax check is also compulsory for scrap metal site dealers and mobile collectors.
The tax check, which is accessible through a digital service via the GOV.UK website, is now live and can be completed 120 days before the license renewal. HMRC have introduced the measures to ensure licence holders are paying the correct tax according to their income.
First-time applicants will not have to complete the check. Instead, licensing authorities will make sure they have access to HMRC guidance, showing them what they need to do to be properly registered for tax in the future.
Dave Etheridge, Principal Licensing Officer at WRS, has urged drivers to read up on the new checks so they are aware of what is expected when renewing their licence.
He says: “The check is a few questions and should only take a few minutes. We will not receive any of your financial information and instead will receive a code from HMRC when you have completed the check.”
“If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.”
Licensees can access the tax check, or find out more, on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
Likewise, for more information, please visit the Worcestershire Regulatory Services website and social media pages.