Teaching the facts of tax

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched a new resource for teachers to help their students learn the facts of tax.

‘Tax Facts’ is a comprehensive teachers’ pack, designed to provide an introduction to the tax system for 14–17 year olds studying citizenship, business enterprise, personal finance and other aspects of the curriculum that prepare them for life beyond school.

As well as detailed lesson plans and guidance, HMRC has produced four short, animated videos to inform students about some of the key tax issues they will face as they begin their working lives.

The videos present key information in an informal, light-hearted way and complement material in the lesson plans. The four videos are:

‘About HMRC’ – a background to HMRC’s work and the basics of the tax system.

‘Starting Your First Job’ – what to expect when you enter the world of work, such as tax               deductions and National Insurance contributions.

‘Working For Yourself’ – what to do if you’re planning to become self-employed.

‘The Hidden Economy’ – how people try to get out of paying their taxes and what HMRC is doing to tackle this.

Sue Walton, Director of Tax Professionalism and Assurance, HMRC said:“These videos are an excellent way to start engaging with future taxpayers and help young people prepare for the financial realities of life. HMRC wants to help students understand how tax works, so that they know what to expect when they start earning. By explaining to them how tax is used and the link with vital public services, young people will learn to appreciate the importance of paying tax.”

Ashley Tomlin, Deputy Head, Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke said:

“Tax Facts is a useful resource for teachers, helping promote financial awareness to young people and bringing alive the idea of raising and spending public money. It is a flexible resource that can be customised to fit different teaching styles, the amount of time available and the curriculum."

The videos can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/1MpfJiM

Notes for editors:

1.The four animations are available on HMRC’s YouTube channel and on DVD for teachers. The teachers’ resources are published on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website http://bit.ly/1fC6iCz. A volunteers’ guide to using the material will also be available on TES.

2.HMRC sought views from Charter Advisory Committee representatives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG), policy experts, education experts, teachers and students. 

3.‘Tax Facts’ has been accredited with the Personal Finance Education Group (PFEG) Quality Mark.

4.All the material will be reviewed every six months.

5.Follow HMRC’s press office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

6.HMRC’s Flickr channelwww.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk