HMRC Campaign's

The Equality Act was supposed to guarantee equal treatment under public institutions.

So why does it increasingly feel like Britain operates on a two-tier system?

Millions of ordinary taxpayers spend hours trying to contact HMRC over:

• incorrect tax codes

• penalties

• self-assessment problems

• PAYE disputes

• child benefit issues

• late refunds

Meanwhile, HMRC operates a specialist division known as “Public Department 1” (PD1), historically associated with:

• members of the Royal Family

• MPs

• judges

• senior officials

• protected categories of taxpayer

Official government guidance confirms that transgender taxpayers with legally restricted records can also be transferred into PD1 with access handled by specialist staff.

The government says this is required under confidentiality obligations linked to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

But this is where serious questions about equality and fairness begin.

The Equality Act 2010 was meant to ensure public bodies treat citizens equally and fairly — regardless of background, status, identity or political sensitivity.

Yet ordinary working people now see:

• specialist phone access for some groups

• collapsing service standards for everyone else

• endless waiting times

• reduced accountability

• public services prioritising “protected systems” over universal service quality

Equal rights must also mean equal standards.

Nobody is arguing against privacy protections.

EVERY taxpayer deserves confidentiality.

But there is a difference between protecting confidential records and creating systems that appear to give faster or more responsive access to selected categories while millions of ordinary citizens struggle to receive basic support.

This is why public trust is collapsing.

Because people increasingly believe there is:

• one standard for politically sensitive groups

• another for ordinary taxpayers

The Equality Act should protect fairness for ALL citizens — not create the perception that some groups receive enhanced institutional treatment while pensioners, small business owners, self-employed workers and families are left trapped in failing systems.

If HMRC can answer specialist lines efficiently, then HMRC can improve service standards for everyone.

Equality before public institutions should mean:

• equal access

• equal service

• equal responsiveness

• equal respect

Not:

priority systems for some while everyone else waits.

Britain cannot continue down a path where public confidence disappears because fairness itself appears selective.

Official sources:

https://www.gov.uk/tell-hmrc-change-of-details/gender-change

Equality Act 2010:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents

HMRC confidentiality guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/information-disclosure-guide/idg30250

Gender Recognition Act guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/paye-manual/paye103005

Tax Advice – "Don't Get Caught Out"

Official Campaign

Don't Get Caught Out

What it does

This is HMRC's flagship awareness campaign designed to help workers, contractors, agency staff, freelancers, and self-employed people avoid:

Tax avoidance schemes
Misleading tax advisers
Umbrella company scams
Invalid expense claims
Unexpected tax bills

HMRC provides:

Payslip checking tools
Contract checking guidance
Real-life case studies
Tax avoidance warning signs
Scam reporting guidance. 0search4turn0search0

Extra resources

Claiming Expenses Guidance

Work Expenses Campaign

Official guidance

Claiming Expenses – Don't Get Caught Out

Purpose

HMRC has increasingly focused on tax refund companies advertising on social media and charging commissions for claims taxpayers could make themselves.

What it covers

Working from home expenses
Uniform and work clothing
Mileage and vehicles
Professional subscriptions
Travel expenses
Equipment purchases

HMRC warns that taxpayers remain responsible for any incorrect claim, even if a third-party company submitted it. citeturn0search2

Tax Avoidance Campaign

Official information

Main targets

Contractors
Agency workers
NHS staff
IT consultants
Construction workers
Umbrella company users

Common schemes HMRC warns about

Loan schemes
Profit share arrangements
Disguised remuneration
Offshore structures
Artificial umbrella company arrangements

Real-life campaign stories

Tax Avoidance Case Studies

HMRC publishes stories from affected workers to demonstrate the consequences of joining tax avoidance schemes. turn0search4

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

Main campaign

Related campaign

Get Ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax

Objective

Modernise tax administration.

Who is affected

Sole traders
Self-employed workers
Landlords
Tax agents

Requirements

Digital record keeping
Quarterly updates
Final annual declaration
Compatible software

HMRC launched a major communications campaign before the April 2026 rollout. For qualifying sole traders and landlords with annual business/property income above £50,000, digital reporting became mandatory from April 2026.

Purpose

Allows landlords to voluntarily disclose previously undeclared rental income.

Who can use it

Buy-to-let landlords
Overseas landlords
Holiday-let owners
Multiple-property landlords
Rent-a-room landlords above thresholds

Benefits

Reduced penalties
Structured disclosure process
Opportunity to regularise tax affairs

The campaign remains one of HMRC's most significant voluntary disclosure programmes and was updated in 2026.

Objective

Encourage savings among lower-income households.

How it works

Eligible savers can deposit money monthly.
Government bonuses are paid on savings growth.
Designed for people receiving qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit.

Audience

Low-income workers
Families
Benefit recipients

Child Benefit Awareness Campaign

Official service

Child Benefit

Campaign objectives

Encourage eligible families to claim
Raise awareness of National Insurance credits
Explain High Income Child Benefit Charge rules
Ensure new parents understand entitlements

Target groups

New parents
Adoptive parents
Guardians
Foster carers in some circumstances

Tax Credits Support Campaigns

Official information

Tax Credits Information

Focus areas

Renewals
Changes of circumstances
Overpayment prevention
Universal Credit migration

Audience

Working families
Parents
Existing tax credit recipients

National Minimum Wage Enforcement Campaign

Official guidance

National Minimum Wage Information

HMRC's role

HMRC enforces:

National Minimum Wage
National Living Wage

Campaign messages

Know your rights
Check your pay
Report underpayment

Targets

Employers
Workers
Agency staff
Apprentices

Tax Fraud & Tax Evasion Campaigns

Reporting service

Report Tax Fraud

Areas targeted

Hidden income
Cash-in-hand businesses
VAT fraud
Employer fraud
Offshore tax evasion

Campaign objective

Encourage confidential reporting and voluntary compliance.

HMRC Scam Awareness Campaign

Official guidance

Avoid and Report HMRC Scams

Focus

Fake text messages
Refund scams
Phishing emails
Fraudulent phone calls
Social media scams

Main message

HMRC wants taxpayers to verify communications before sharing personal information.

Online Seller Compliance Campaign

Who it targets

eBay sellers
Etsy sellers
Amazon Marketplace sellers
Vinted sellers
Depop sellers

Purpose

Help people understand when casual selling becomes taxable trading.

Recent HMRC compliance activity has generated significant awareness among online sellers and side-hustle operators. reddit17

Employer Compliance Campaigns

Official payroll guidance

Focus

PAYE compliance
National Insurance
IR35
Employment status
Benefits in kind

Audience

Employers
Payroll providers
Accountants
HR teams

One-to-Many Compliance Campaigns

What they are

HMRC sends targeted letters, emails, and educational messages to groups believed to be at risk of under-reporting tax.

Common topics

Crypto assets
Overseas income
Rental income
Capital gains
Online trading
Self-employment

Goal

Encourage voluntary correction before formal investigations.

HMRC Main Campaign Portal

Government department

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Major campaign websites