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HMRC Tax Professional Programme 2013-2014

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Original post by ciobas
The salary is: EO London £26094 30331 and National £22669 - 26227. EO position does not offer any formal qualifications, but there will be internal training and examinations. I was told at Euston tower that the training acquired is generally recognized by other employers. I do not know about promotion possibilities, but for two years we can't apply for other officer opportunities.


Just to confirm that the salary band minimum is a tiny bit higher now. So you can expect a few hundred more than that.
Original post by laura3865
Ok I see, thats the same at the Home Office.

There doesn't seem to be much information available so I think it will just be a case of turning up and seeing what's what then!

Thanks again


HMRC did not recruit for a long time and so you will notice that most people in EO tax professional roles are not graduates. However you will notice that a large proportion of the new external intake are graduates. This is a reflection of changing times. A few will be people who didn't make it on to the TPDP and the rest will have applied directly for EO jobs.
Original post by laura3865
Hi, the position is permanent and we do get a qualification that is recognised outside HMRC but it wasn't a qualification that I recognised the name of. I think anywhere in the civil service has pretty good progression opportunities. I'm in a similar position having had interviews for HEO roles in the home office but I think I would go for this one instead because it is a graduate position so I would have thought they will support your learning more etc but that's just my opinion.


What kind of role were you offered with the Home Office?
One thing to bear in mind is that HMRC pays better than most govt departments. One of the reasons for this is that the tax profession needs to not drop its salaries too low as it risks losing staff to the tempting private sector salaries.
Original post by sempitern
Yes you will claim back expenses. You will book your travel through an internal travel portal and so you will not pay out of your own pocket for tutorial travel.


I thought so! Thanks for clarifying.


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Original post by sempitern
HMRC did not recruit for a long time and so you will notice that most people in EO tax professional roles are not graduates. However you will notice that a large proportion of the new external intake are graduates. This is a reflection of changing times. A few will be people who didn't make it on to the TPDP and the rest will have applied directly for EO jobs.



Does this apply to the HO roles too?

I hope you don't mind me asking, and it is probably presumptuous of me to think that you know, but:
Do you know what sort of training it is for the EO/HO intakes? And what sort of intakes there are in terms of number of new starters? Can you expect to be the only new person starting the role when you begin (as I noticed so many different start dates and locations) and have desk training, or is it more likely that you start with a group of people and are given more formal training?

Also, do you know the similarities, if any, between the EO/HO roles being offered and the TPDP?
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Purslow20
Does this apply to the HO roles too?

I hope you don't mind me asking, and it is probably presumptuous of me to think that you know, but:
Do you know what sort of training it is for the EO/HO intakes? And what sort of intakes there are in terms of number of new starters? Can you expect to be the only new person starting the role when you begin (as I noticed so many different start dates and locations) and have desk training, or is it more likely that you start with a group of people and are given more formal training?

Also, do you know the similarities, if any, between the EO/HO roles being offered and the TPDP?


It does apply to HO too.

The tax professional training for both EO and HO is comprehensive. The only difference is complexity. HO delves into further complexity and the HO will get more complex cases. However for the first year or so you would probably have trouble distinguishing your job and performance from that of an EO trainee since initially, it is all just training and learning.

All tax professional training is formal. There are formal lessons / tutorials and exams. You must pass the exams in order to progress.

In terms of numbers it varies from location to location. You could start with ten people in a big location or in a smaller one, you could be the only new person. However nearly all learning is in tutorial group batches. And so even in the unlikely event that you start in a small location on your own, you can almost guarantee that your learning will be with a group of others. Sometimes you might travel to another location for your tutorials.

EO /HO training generally lasts around 18 months. After that you will start to get your own work. You will actually work on cases during the 18 months but more under supervision of others.

EO /HO tax professional posts will generally be to one tax specialism - so corporation tax, income tax or VAT for example. Whereas TPDP are given a four year grounding across all tax heads before they choose to specialise in a given area which could be technical tax or management. There is nothing to stop you doing that by entering in an EO or HO role. You could be a technical tax professional for five years for example and then move into people management by managing a team. The difference is speed of promotion. You will work up the ladder more slowly for sure. TPDP trainees start at HO / training band. If they complete the four years successfully they will come out at Grade 7 (the grades are AA, AO, EO, HO, SEO, Grade 7, Grade 6, then SCS the Senior Civil Service). However for a non TPDP person to make it to Grade 7 in four years would be almost unheard of. Of course there is nothing stopping existing HMRC staff from applying for TPDP.
(edited 9 years ago)
Does anyone know if the training for Newcastle TPDP is really in Leeds?
There was an email sent out a few weeks ago that suggested it was. However it just seems like a really awkward inconvenience for one of the larger offices trainees to travel down from Newcastle to every week, learn complex tax stuff & come back?
Reply 1227
You think they still offering vacancies
Original post by ChrissD
Does anyone know if the training for Newcastle TPDP is really in Leeds?
There was an email sent out a few weeks ago that suggested it was. However it just seems like a really awkward inconvenience for one of the larger offices trainees to travel down from Newcastle to every week, learn complex tax stuff & come back?


Most trainees travel for tutorials unless they happen to be based in the office where tutorials are given for that group. Up to two hours travel is quite normal. When I had tutorials, it was about 2 hours for me. It was a long day but I got the time back and expenses paid etc...
Reply 1229
What would be a realistic timescale for getting to Grade 7 down the EO route?
Original post by sempitern
Most trainees travel for tutorials unless they happen to be based in the office where tutorials are given for that group. Up to two hours travel is quite normal. When I had tutorials, it was about 2 hours for me. It was a long day but I got the time back and expenses paid etc...
That's not good news, especially since I live north of Newcastle. I've had jobs where I've had 2 hours travel each way before(this one will be even more!) & definitely put me in no mood to learn. If I'd known beforehand I would have definitely picked Leeds, but I suppose it'll be something I'll just have to deal with. Thanks for the reply though, even if it wasn't what I was hoping for. :smile:
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by ChrissD
That's not good news, especially since I live north of Newcastle. I've had jobs where I've had 2 hours travel each way before(this one will be even more!) & definitely put me in no mood to learn. If I'd known beforehand I would have definitely picked Leeds, but I suppose it'll be something I'll just have to deal with. Thanks for the reply though, even if it wasn't what I was hoping for. :smile:


I don't know where your tutorials will be of course but if they have suggested Leeds then it wouldn't be considered an unusual distance to travel.

While the days can be long, I actually found the travel time very useful for digesting the large amount of reading. I would often only get to finish the book on the way to the tutorial event. On the way home I usually sleep :-)
I really appreciate this information. It is so helpful.
Thank you


Original post by sempitern
It does apply to HO too.

The tax professional training for both EO and HO is comprehensive. The only difference is complexity. HO delves into further complexity and the HO will get more complex cases. However for the first year or so you would probably have trouble distinguishing your job and performance from that of an EO trainee since initially, it is all just training and learning.

All tax professional training is formal. There are formal lessons / tutorials and exams. You must pass the exams in order to progress.

In terms of numbers it varies from location to location. You could start with ten people in a big location or in a smaller one, you could be the only new person. However nearly all learning is in tutorial group batches. And so even in the unlikely event that you start in a small location on your own, you can almost guarantee that your learning will be with a group of others. Sometimes you might travel to another location for your tutorials.

EO /HO training generally lasts around 18 months. After that you will start to get your own work. You will actually work on cases during the 18 months but more under supervision of others.

EO /HO tax professional posts will generally be to one tax specialism - so corporation tax, income tax or VAT for example. Whereas TPDP are given a four year grounding across all tax heads before they choose to specialise in a given area which could be technical tax or management. There is nothing to stop you doing that by entering in an EO or HO role. You could be a technical tax professional for five years for example and then move into people management by managing a team. The difference is speed of promotion. You will work up the ladder more slowly for sure. TPDP trainees start at HO / training band. If they complete the four years successfully they will come out at Grade 7 (the grades are AA, AO, EO, HO, SEO, Grade 7, Grade 6, then SCS the Senior Civil Service). However for a non TPDP person to make it to Grade 7 in four years would be almost unheard of. Of course there is nothing stopping existing HMRC staff from applying for TPDP.
Has anyone received a formal offer to start eo, have had the conditional one but nothing else since start of August.
Original post by Ismailm2
Has anyone received a formal offer to start eo, have had the conditional one but nothing else since start of August.


I havnt but couldn't speak for eveyone, however, I do know checks can take 4 weeks to process so I wouldn't get too worried yet!
(edited 9 years ago)
I GOT my formal offer today via email, but nothing via post.
Original post by chunasandwich
I GOT my formal offer today via email, but nothing via post.


When did you receive your DBS certificate?

I got an email last week asking me to post the original DBS certificate to them but I still haven't received anything.

Congrats by the way. I have somehow managed to not tell anybody about my offer until I get the formal offer.
(edited 9 years ago)
Well I had a DBS certificate from July, so they said they'd accept that as it was dated in the last three months. I got that one for the Contact centre position, with I didn't take up in the end, so they asked for it.

I also called Audrey a few days ago, and she just told me that all my checks had gone through, and id get a letter soon. Still nothing through the post though.

My start date is on the 6th of October, in Leicester.
Original post by chunasandwich
Well I had a DBS certificate from July, so they said they'd accept that as it was dated in the last three months. I got that one for the Contact centre position, with I didn't take up in the end, so they asked for it.

I also called Audrey a few days ago, and she just told me that all my checks had gone through, and id get a letter soon. Still nothing through the post though.

My start date is on the 6th of October, in Leicester.


Oh yes I remember you mentioning the DBS certificate in one of your previous posts. I can relax now lol.

I am starting in January which is a bit of a wait as I have to grind out a few more months at my current job.

So did you receive anymore info with your email such as which department will you be working in i.e VAT, Corp Tax etc.
Original post by Mayur Amz
Oh yes I remember you mentioning the DBS certificate in one of your previous posts. I can relax now lol.

I am starting in January which is a bit of a wait as I have to grind out a few more months at my current job.

So did you receive anymore info with your email such as which department will you be working in i.e VAT, Corp Tax etc.


Nope, the only thing I received was my managers name, and that they'd get in touch me soon about the post, and the specifics.

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