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HMRC Graduate Tax Specialist Programme 2016

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Anyone else having the opportunity to undertake the ICAS qualification as opposed to just the in house hmrc tax qualifications?
Reply 2301
Original post by gingerwizard
Anyone else having the opportunity to undertake the ICAS qualification as opposed to just the in house hmrc tax qualifications?


Yes I've accepted a place on that in Croydon
Original post by avdb
Yes I've accepted a place on that in Croydon

From what I've heard/read it seems like it's going to be very much an experiment and we're the guinea pigs. Exciting though as it's totally so far and above the in house tax qualifications we could be studying otherwise.
Reply 2303
Original post by gingerwizard
From what I've heard/read it seems like it's going to be very much an experiment and we're the guinea pigs. Exciting though as it's totally so far and above the in house tax qualifications we could be studying otherwise.


Yes I think it will be a really good scheme to be on once the teething problems and niggles have been sorted out.

Where will you be based? Have you been given any information about where the ICAS tutorials will be delivered? From what I have gathered so far they will not be at our normal HMRC offices.
Original post by avdb
Yes I think it will be a really good scheme to be on once the teething problems and niggles have been sorted out.

Where will you be based? Have you been given any information about where the ICAS tutorials will be delivered? From what I have gathered so far they will not be at our normal HMRC offices.

From what I've been told where I am based the ICAS tutorials will be delivered all in online classes format through a provider such as kaplan or bpp (but don't quote me on that), will be following a similar format to PWC in the distance learning capacity over online tutorials. So not too sure how that will be.
Reply 2305
Original post by khachak
I received a provisional offer for HO two weeks ago. I called the number Jabs1991 suggested: 03000 523040, and was told that is an incorrect number as it deals with the Home Office! So everyone refrain from calling that number. I was also told that the pre-employment checks have not even started and that it will be another week at least before more information is known. The suggested time to call back was a fortnight.


Hey, I'm in a similar boat - is the last contact you had with them replying to the job offer email to accept the position? I did that two weeks ago and haven't heard anything since, but it seems like that may be the norm?
Reply 2306
Original post by gingerwizard
From what I've been told where I am based the ICAS tutorials will be delivered all in online classes format through a provider such as kaplan or bpp (but don't quote me on that), will be following a similar format to PWC in the distance learning capacity over online tutorials. So not too sure how that will be.


I will be doing ICAS in Birmingham. I think from what I've heard that it's the direction that HMRC will be heading. Next years TSP will be changed quite radically, probably based on the ICAS trial.
Reply 2307
Original post by gingerwizard
From what I've been told where I am based the ICAS tutorials will be delivered all in online classes format through a provider such as kaplan or bpp (but don't quote me on that), will be following a similar format to PWC in the distance learning capacity over online tutorials. So not too sure how that will be.


Yes I think it will follow a similar format at all the trial locations, but they've not actually told us where the ICAS classes will be held.

My new manager is fairly certain it would not be at my base office. From what I can gather it is Tolley/LexisNexis who deliver the ICAS learning, so for me that would mean potentially spending time in central London where their office is, which would mean a quite different commute compared to travelling to my HMRC office.Given that we will be spending significant chunks of our time doing the ICAS training, it would be useful to know where the classes will be held, if not at our named office. One month to go, and I'm trying to find out at the moment so that I can decide where to live...
can anyone tell me if there is a specific degree that i should have done?ive graduated in business information systems with a 2:1 or is this position only for those with specific degrees such as accounting or mathematics
Reply 2309
Anything as long as it's 2:2 or above. Your degree title could be Staring Wistfully Out of a Window Whilst at Work BSC (which I'd get a first in) and you'd have as good a chance as anyone else.
Hi, has anybody heard back from HMRC/Civil service about the provisional offers for HO positions.

its been over a month since receiving offer and not received any update.
Reply 2311
Original post by Silas Greenback
Hi, has anybody heard back from HMRC/Civil service about the provisional offers for HO positions.

its been over a month since receiving offer and not received any update.


No same position but I am waiting for an O position.
Just got an email for the O position stating my employment checks have been completed and they'll be in contact shortly to agree a start date with me.
Is this O position offered to you after tsp or did u apply for it separately?
Reply 2314
Had formal offer for TSP this afternoon
Original post by Silas Greenback
Is this O position offered to you after tsp or did u apply for it separately?


After I applied for TSP.

I failed to get onto that then they asked if I'd be interested in working in 4 locations. I said yes to all and they contacted me a few months later offering me an O band role.
Reply 2316
An update from earlier. Have been moved onto the HO tax professional programme. Has the same start date as the TSP. Anyone remember this being a vacancy at the time that we applied for TSP? Fingers crossed for us on the reserve list, a bit of progress at least:

Further to your application for the Tax Specialist Programme and the e-mail you received advising that we would consider offering appointments to other roles in HMRC. As a result of this your details are being transferred on the WCN system over to campaign reference CSR/1666/16. You do not need to take any action at this time, however you may be contacted in the future, under this campaign reference, regarding potential HMRC roles.

Kind Regards

Civil Service Resourcing Team
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by avdb
Yes I think it will follow a similar format at all the trial locations, but they've not actually told us where the ICAS classes will be held.

My new manager is fairly certain it would not be at my base office. From what I can gather it is Tolley/LexisNexis who deliver the ICAS learning, so for me that would mean potentially spending time in central London where their office is, which would mean a quite different commute compared to travelling to my HMRC office.Given that we will be spending significant chunks of our time doing the ICAS training, it would be useful to know where the classes will be held, if not at our named office. One month to go, and I'm trying to find out at the moment so that I can decide where to live...



I'm in the exact same position. I live in NW London and I am looking for a flat closer to Croydon but because I don't know where the classes will be I don't know if it's worth it or not! I was also told that we'll have a block format so something like a month of classes and then a month of work. I wish they could be more specific so I can plan my life!
Original post by JDW87
An update from earlier. Have been moved onto the HO tax professional programme. Has the same start date as the TSP. Anyone remember this being a vacancy at the time that we applied for TSP? Fingers crossed for us on the reserve list, a bit of progress at least:

Further to your application for the Tax Specialist Programme and the e-mail you received advising that we would consider offering appointments to other roles in HMRC. As a result of this your details are being transferred on the WCN system over to campaign reference CSR/1666/16. You do not need to take any action at this time, however you may be contacted in the future, under this campaign reference, regarding potential HMRC roles.

Kind Regards

Civil Service Resourcing Team


I got the same email yesterday - I emailed back to ask if this means I'm no longer on the reserve list for TSP 2016 (just to clarify), and asked what grade I would be considered for as I am currently an O grade with HMRC. Haven't received a response as of yet.
(edited 7 years ago)
Has anyone who was offered a HO/O role received this email this afternoon?

You were recently issued a provisional offer letter in regards to your application under vacancy ref. CSR/1667/16. In the letter you were asked to respond within 5 days but we have yet to receive a response from yourself. You now have 3 days from the date of this message to respond to your provisional offer. If we do not receive a response from you within this time your application under vacancy ref. CSR/1667/16 will be withdrawn.Please can you send your accept or decline to the following e-mail address: [email protected]

I have actually accepted the offer when they first initially offered me the role which leaves me baffled as to why I've received this.

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