Ministers have called on Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to clarify how the introduction of real time information (RTI) for universal credits will affect SMEs.

In a report released today, the Parliament’s public accounts committee says HMRC must clarify how RTI, which is being developed by HMRC to support the introduction of the new universal credit, will affect small businesses and the self-employed who may not use electronic payroll systems.

Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Margaret Hodge, said: “The sheer complexity of the benefits system places a heavy burden on claimants.

"People claiming multiple benefits, such as housing benefit and child tax credit, deal with different public bodies.
“This can be confusing and potentially discourage legitimate applications. Departments responsible for means testing must work together to get a better understanding of the burdens placed on claimants."

The report also states that HMRC need to develop an effective approach for those claimants and businesses that are likely to be outside RTI in order to try to prevent previous problems which have affected tax credits.