Revenue Service director role split into two separate jobs

The States is recruiting a new director of the service, which collects income tax and social security contributions, and the current postholder, Nicky Forshaw, will become director of tax policy.

Mrs Forshaw will lead policy work, such as international taxation, the introduction of new taxes and changes to existing taxes.

Her successor as director of the Revenue Service, who has not yet been appointed, will run the operational side of the department.

The change was announced yesterday by States treasurer Bethan Haines.

‘I reviewed the role recently, as part of considering wider improvement plans already in progress for the service, and it was clear to me that splitting its operational and policy responsibilities was necessary,’ said Ms Haines.

‘We are committed to improving the service islanders receive and allowing the director of the Revenue Service to focus solely on the operational performance, without also being responsible for significant policy demands, will best support those aims.’

The Revenue Service has been under pressure in recent years.

Its customer service has been a frequent source of frustration to the public and the assessment of some taxpayers’ returns remains years behind.

Nine months ago Policy & Resources president Deputy Lyndon Trott revealed that failing to send out repayments on time had cost the Revenue Service nearly £1.1m. over the previous two years.

In a statement the States said that the review of the director’s role found that its ‘ever-increasing demands had become too extensive and it was no longer serving the community’s best interests’.

Ms Haines said such expansion of roles was not uncommon at a senior level in the public sector as demand on services also increased.