One minute with... Vicky Topps

What’s keeping you busy at work?

I’m dealing with the once in a generation change of how HMRC conduct compliance work, including informal approaches, upstream compliance projects and interventions through intermediaries.

I have also been helping clients resetting enquiries to a clear path to conclusion (within the LSS) and SAO and CCO advice.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?

One is that experience really does make a difference, but you are always continuously learning. Having a collaborative approach with multi-disciplinary colleagues is critical. You don’t need to be an expert on everything!

Throughout my career, I have found coaching and mentoring fundamental. I am grateful to colleagues like Nicole Newbury (HMRC Large Business Director) who have supported me to develop.

I have spent my whole career outside of London, and you don’t need to be based there to progress to a senior level!

What advice would you give to businesses from your experience at HMRC?

Things often go wrong because of poor communication. I was discussing this with HMRC’s lead for the High-Risk Corporate Programme recently. It is is important from HMRC’s side to explain why they are concerned or how internal governance works to ensure alternative scenarios are considered and tested, as it is quite opaque to the outside world. Similarly, the considerations a Head of Tax has to make is often not appreciated or understood unless they are shared with HMRC.

In some cases, it can actually be helpful if HMRC make more use of their formal powers in an enquiry. This can help progress matters more quickly and it also helps tax teams make the case for additional budget in order to bring in support from specialists.

If you could make one change to a tax law or practice, what would it be?

I’d suggest HMRC take a more focused holistic approach to bringing enquiries to a conclusion. Over the years, I have seen so many variations in approaches. My former role on the HMRC Large Business leadership team tried to ensure consistency and best practice through the use of enquiry plans. On complex disputes, input by a senior experienced HMRC enquiry lead alongside a HMRC dispute resolution practitioner is a real game-changer. More use of this and techniques like ADR, without prejudice meetings and discussions focused on the LSS and Compliance Professional Standards, help to find options to settle matters and achieve certainty sooner.

Has a recent change in HMRC practice impacted your work?

HMRC’s strategy to close the tax gap in relation to error and the recruitment of additional ‘audit’ or systems and process specialists is having an impact. HMRC are now doing more end-to-end compliance visits, and they are looking at the SAO and CCO implications – charging penalties for inaccurate certificates and allocating additional resource to fast growing businesses.

What are you looking out for in 2025?

Naturally I am looking at all the HMRC activity following investment by the government in 5,000 additional HMRC compliance staff, as well as how upstream and one-to-many compliance will be extended further. At KPMG, we have seen a 30% increasing corporation tax enquiries, but there is an additional large number of enquiries which are now conducted via informal information requests.

Finally, you might not know this about me but...

I have to juggle three young children and a dog. I make sure I do an early morning run with the dog, often before 6am, to multi-task and try to plan as many holidays as I can on a budget.