JP Marks was in Glasgow visiting Advice Direct Scotland. 

The head of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has praised the work of a Scottish charity in helping to demystify the tax system, during a visit to its headquarters.

JP Marks, the first permanent secretary and chief executive of HMRC, called in at Advice Direct Scotland’s offices in Glasgow.

His visit came a year after the charity launched its taxadvice.scot service, which offers free, impartial support to anyone in Scotland on tax-related issues.

The service is backed by HMRC through a grant funding scheme, and is designed to help individuals and businesses in Scotland understand their tax obligations and navigate the system.

During his visit, Mr Marks met some of the charity’s frontline staff as well as chief executive Andrew Bartlett, who outlined its plans for the year ahead.

Advisers at taxadvice.scot can be reached online or by calling 0800 756 3381, with a team standing ready to help people with tax queries.

The key aim of the service is to offer free advice to customers who may face difficulties in understanding their tax obligations, accessing HMRC’s online services, or who need help dealing with tax-related debts.

Advice Direct Scotland is one of 12 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK working in partnership with HMRC to deliver tailored tax and benefits advice. It is the only one providing the service in Scotland.

JP Marks, chief executive of HMRC, said: “It was a pleasure to visit Advice Direct Scotland and meet Andrew and his excellent team and see the impact of their good work. 

“I’m grateful for our partnership and pleased to see the HMRC grant funding scheme working, helping us support our customers to get the right support and advice at the right time. 

“I look forward to continuing our collaboration in the years ahead.”

Staff at taxadvice.scot can answer questions on a wide range of areas, from self-assessment forms to PAYE and National Insurance queries.

They can also offer guidance on tax related to pensions, inheritance, capital gains, and marriage allowance, as well as help with claiming child benefit and tax credits.

Customers can also receive support in claiming tax refunds and managing any tax-related debts.

Scottish businesses can also benefit from the service, with advice on VAT registration, corporation tax, and compliance issues.

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “We were honoured to welcome JP Marks to our Glasgow headquarters.

“It was a genuine pleasure to meet him and get the opportunity to share the work we’re doing to support people across Scotland with their tax concerns.

“His visit provided a valuable moment for our team to showcase the impact of our services, and discuss our strategic plans for the year ahead.

“As the former permanent secretary to the Scottish Government and now chief executive and first permanent secretary of HMRC, Mr Marks brings a wealth of experience and insight into the challenges faced by people navigating the UK tax system.

“We appreciated his interest in understanding how our charity is working to make tax advice more accessible, especially for those who may struggle with digital services or find the process overwhelming.

“We’re proud to be breaking down barriers to advice and ensuring that no one feels alone when dealing with complex financial matters.

“Mr Marks’s visit was a great boost for our staff. We look forward to continuing our work across Scotland to improve access to trusted guidance.”