Reply to: Invitation to be involved in independant research for HMRC

[dvmwj]

I’d imagine that they are firing off these letters before GDPR comes into effect in May.

How would they cope with a gazillion subject access requests?!!

[dvmwj]

Does not opting out constitute consent to pass on your contact details by default?

Surely their stance should be "if you want to take part in the survey, contact us..."

[cojak]

I’d imagine that they are firing off these letters before GDPR comes into effect in May.

[Servia]

DP Act violation

I also received the letter asking if I'd like to participate which so far I have ignored. However last week I got a call from the research company so HMRC have obviously passed across all our details without permission.

If this isn't a flagrant breach of the data protection act I don't know what is (also the taxpayers charter)

Given the high profile this type of thing has in the news of late I think i might well reply to their original letter !!

[Dylan]

Can you expand on why ?
Can I post the letter on here so you can see the full context of it ?

I've seen the letter.

See their own data protection statement... Asking you to opt out of them giving your personal details to a 3rd party ffs.

[Scruff]

I.F.F RESEARCH LIMITED - Company number 00849983

Formed in 1965

HMRC have passed the details on - It's a letter from HMRC.

MLeggsy

File 13 is the answer? Why would you have anything to do with IFF Research? HMRC must be paying them handsomely to achieve the sum total of F-A.L.L.

[keeno65]

Which as stated above is against the law.

Can you expand on why ?
Can I post the letter on here so you can see the full context of it ?

[Dylan]

Which as stated above is against the law.

[MLeggsy]

Ermm - I would be concerned from whom "IFF Research" (whoever they are) got your personal details?

Once they answer you, File 13.

I.F.F RESEARCH LIMITED - Company number 00849983

Formed in 1965

HMRC have passed the details on - It's a letter from HMRC.

MLeggsy

[Scruff]

Ermm - I would be concerned from whom "IFF Research" (whoever they are) got your personal details?

Once they answer you, File 13.

[Dylan]

Anyone answering this without having settled their affairs first is mental, consider it entrapment and assume it will be used against you.

Can just see it now, arriving at tribunal to see HMRC clutching a bunch of surveys where people have told them why they switched to a tax avoidance scheme

[regron]

Simple response will suffice:

'IR35'

[Loan Ranger]

to help HMRC understand the reason people use contractor avoidance schemes.

What, after nearly 20 years, they still don't know?

[Dylan]

Making you opt out from them passing your personal information to a third party, bless them

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...hold-about-you

Ignore the letter, if the third party contacts you then complain to the information commissioner.

[MLeggsy]

Opinion

Hi Guys, first post, have quite a different tax years currently under appeal.

I received a letter yesterday from the Counter Avoidance Policy Development Dept, asking if I am willing to take part in some research by a compnay called IFF research to help HMRC understand the reason people use contractor avoidance schemes. It goes on to say I don't have to take part and if I do, no information will be shared with HMRC.
Has anybody else had this letter, and if so should we opt out or do it?

Thanks

Hi Keeno65,

Lots of these have been received. Some people will take part, others will opt out and ultimately the choice is yours. If you want to put your side of the story across then go for it.

MLeggsy