The UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), has agreed an extension of its application services agreement with IT services provider Accenture.
Under the deal, Accenture will develop and introduce a secure cloud-hosted tax management platform for individual users.
The agreement, which lasts until June 2020, aims to support increased use of digital technologies throughout HMRC’s primary personal tax platform, the National Insurance and PAYE Service (NPS).
The technology firm will deliver the services from the Newcastle-based Accenture Delivery Center, part of its global delivery network.
Accenture already manages and maintains the NPS for HMRC, which will support the tax authority’s capability to provide rapid personalised services to the country’s taxpayers.
Accenture’s Newcastle Delivery Centre managing director Mark Larsen said: “In support of HMRC’s innovative and customer-focused programme, we will deploy leading digital technologies to radically transform and re-engineer the National Insurance PAYE Service applications and architecture, placing them at the heart of taxation for individuals.”
About 30 new technology jobs are expected to be created at the Newcastle centre, which currently employs nearly 650 people.
The deal will bring together several services under a single digital roof in line with the Government’s plans to offer more flexible and modern platforms.
HMRC collects taxes and duties from 45 million individuals and 5.2 million businesses, as well as supporting trade and growth through customs.
It pays tax credits to 4.6 million households and child benefits to 7.5 million families.
