HMRC begins first phase of Business Records Checks

Over 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be targeted in HMRC’s first round of Business Records Checks (BRC).

Following a period of consultation, the taxman is already arranging visits to carry out checks on the records of small businesses. The visits were not due to start until July but HMRC has decided to introduce what it describes as a ‘test and learn’ trial.

In a briefing note, HMRC confirmed that it is testing BRC in a limited way between 4th April and 15th July 2011; this will involve 30 HMRC staff in eight locations (Edinburgh, Irvine, Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Sunderland, Sheffield and Portsmouth).

It estimates that around 1,200 businesses will be targeted during this initial phase of the programme.