Tax Specialist Programme 2023 – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK
I am delighted that you are considering HMRC as a career choice.
HMRC are going through an exciting time as we undertake a major transformation to modernise our organisation and deliver even better services for our customers. We are embracing new technology to deliver cutting-edge digital services, to make our jobs easier and to make us feel more connected. We can only achieve this with the help and support of our people.
We offer challenging, interesting work and fulfilling, rewarding careers. We’re working hard to make sure that we include people regardless of difference and that each and every colleague in HMRC works in a fully inclusive environment, where they feel respected and safe to speak up if they need to. This is a key priority for HMRC, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to contribute to it.
Jim Harra,
HMRC Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary
Our Purpose
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is one of the UK’s largest organisations, with around 66,000 employees, collecting over £605 billion in tax revenue.
At HMRC we are committed to helping our customers get their tax right. By making it easy for people to get tax right, hard for them to get it wrong and robustly tackling those who cheat the system, we run a fair and effective tax system, collecting the money for the UK’s public services, and giving financial support to people.
Making a difference
Tax pays for everything that the government spends, including hospitals, schools, police, transport, defence and security. We are responsible for working out and collecting the taxes and duties that 50 million people and five million businesses pay. We also pay and administer Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare, Statutory Pay and Tax Credits. We also protect our citizens, for example, through enforcing the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage.
In the 2022 TARGET jobs awards we were shortlisted for the most popular graduate recruiter in the banking, insurance and financial services sector and the public sector. HMRC is 41st in the list of the UK’s 300 top graduate employers.
What you will be doing?
You will get the chance to become part of a highly trained group of tax professionals who tackle the most challenging aspects of tax work in HMRC.
The tax profession offers a varied and stimulating range of career pathways and opportunities to specialise, for example, in international and corporation tax, investigation, technical specialist, fraud, tax policy or as a manager.
Eventually you’ll find your own niche, but along the way you will learn how to:
- resolve tax disputes
- lead teams
- deal with senior business figures and allied professionals (such as lawyers and accountants)
- tackle complex tax work
TSP is particularly suitable for people who are enthusiastic about:
- dealing with people
- tackling complex issues
- using their intellect and solving problems
- investigating and finding out how businesses function
- analysing and interpreting information
- persuasive communication: influencing, negotiating and challenging
Watch our short video to learn about Freddie’s experiences of his first year on the Tax Specialist Programme.
Roles are as diverse as HMRC’s work – you could find yourself:
- making site visits and interviewing directors, their lawyers and accountants
- negotiating settlements and resolving tax disputes
- representing HMRC at Appeal Tribunals
- investigating fraud
- working as a consultant, offering specialist advice to teams across the business
- leading your own teams of tax professionals
- considering and agreeing the application of tax statute and case law
- taking responsibility for managing the relationship between HMRC and key businesses and their advisers
The programme is designed to give you a broad insight into the range of the tax work HMRC undertakes. It’s the perfect foundation for a wide-ranging career and offers the opportunity to find your way as you develop. HMRC will encourage and support you in exploring and developing your own particular skills and knowledge.
The programme can be completed on part time hours and the minimum number of hours recommended would be 30 hours per week.
If you would like more information on this or have other general enquiries please contact tsprecruitmentteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
What are we looking for?
We’re looking for people who demonstrate enthusiasm, and are:
- independent thinkers who can confidently express their views and make decisions
- strong analytical thinkers and problem solvers who can work out what needs to be done and take pride in doing it to completion
- committed, with determination and resilience, to complete an intensive 3 to 4-year training programme
- team players who can also exercise their initiative
- adaptable to shifts in business focus and the needs of HMRC’s customers, so people they deal with have no doubt about their integrity and professionalism, because everything HMRC does must be above suspicion and comply with the Civil Service Code
Eligibility
You must have a 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6) at application stage, or the expectation of a 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6) before September 2023. Civil servants who do not meet the academic qualification can apply if you were recruited through fair and open competition and have passed your probation period before September 2023.
Nationality and immigration
You are eligible to apply for the TSP if you satisfy both the nationality and right to work/Immigration requirements.
Nationality requirements (Civil Service nationality rules)
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
You must have the right to work in the UK and meet the Immigration and Visa requirements on the GOV.UK Visas and Immigration page.
Rehabilitation of offenders
HMRC has an exemption under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions order 1975).
Applicants who are successful in reaching the provisional offer stage of the recruitment process will be asked to declare details of any criminal convictions, including spent convictions and cautions, to allow basic security checks to be completed.
Declaring a criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being successful in your application for this particular programme, but it may exclude you from applying for other posts within the department.
Investing in you
HMRC prides itself on our learning and development opportunities and the support we give. We’re committed to investing in you and your development throughout your time at HMRC. You’ll have access to regular learning sessions and webinars from a range of cross-sector providers and we’ll make sure you have the tools and skills you need to do a brilliant job. On top of this, your colleagues will be there for you, offering mentoring, advice and practical help.
Diversity, inclusion and equality. We want everyone to feel valued, supported and comfortable being their true self at work. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer, supporting social mobility by giving opportunities to people no matter their background. That’s why we have several staff diversity networks which cover race, disability, LGBTQ, gender and carers. You’ll be able to take part in any of these networks when you join us, and getting involved is easy. You’ll be joining a friendly and helpful community. We’ll give you the support you need to grow in confidence, and help you enjoy your time inside and outside work, ensuring you have a good work-life balance. We believe we are a great place to work. For more information on our diversity networks see page seven of the Your Little Extras and Big Benefits booklet.
Ready to apply?
All civil servants are appointed on merit through fair and open competition in line with the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Principals. The selection process will consider your attitude, capability, talent and willingness to learn. If appointed you will be and are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
A commitment to diversity – blind recruitment on YouTube
The application process has 3 stages. After the video interview, individual merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at video interview, you will be placed on the merit list for an invitation to an assessment centre for the location you have expressed an interest for and will only be considered for appointment in that location. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.
Applications must be made through the CS Jobs site. We do not accept CV’s.
The application has 3 stages:
Stage 1: application and on-line tests
Applications for the programme close 23.59 on 26 October 2022. The deadline for completing all 3 online tests is 11.30am on 28 October 2022.
If you meet the minimum standard for the verbal reasoning test, you will be invited to take the civil service numerical test.
If you meet the minimum standard for the numerical test, you will be invited to take the civil service judgement test.
If you meet the minimum standard for the judgement test, your application will be put on hold for further consideration.
After the test deadline, we will look at all applicant scores on the verbal, numerical and judgement tests to decide the job’s pass mark. We will consider the impact on protected groups, and the number of invitations to the next stage. You will be informed, if you have passed or failed at the raised standard.
Meeting the minimum test requirements for a job level is no guarantee of an invitation to continue the selection process. We will consider the impact on protected groups, and the number of invitations to the next stage.
Stage 2: 11 November to 18 November 2022
If you have been successful, you will be invited to take a video interview. Further details will be provided with your invitation.
Stage 3: 23 January to 17 February 2023
The assessment centre will be held through a virtual platform and full details will be provided with your invitation.
Further help in applying
Candidates requiring assistance
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate. Please see our Disability Matters: How we can support you during our selection process booklet for more details.
You can also watch the video below to see how Ruth successfully went through the selection process and is now on the course.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- email the Government Recruitment Service as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process – for example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re hearing impaired, you may need a Language Service Professional
Disability Confident Scheme
HMRC operates a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). Candidates who tick the DCS box will be invited to take the video interview if they meet the minimum standard at stage 1.
Please also remember to tick the DCS and/or Help Required boxes on your application form if you are applying under the DCS and/or seeking additional support.
Personal email address
We will email you throughout the recruitment process with updates and outcomes. We strongly recommend that you use your own personal email address as we will send emails with private information about your results.
Other Tax Professional posts in HMRC
Where candidates perform well in the application process, but we are unable to offer you a place on the TSP, we may offer opportunities for Higher Officer and/or Officer roles. If this is the case, you will be given more detail about potential roles and asked to register your interest towards the beginning of April 2023.
Repeat applications
You cannot re-apply for the same year’s intake if you fail at any stage of the application process. Any second application will be flagged as a duplicate and removed from the system.
You can however apply again for the TSP programme the following year.
