What you'll do

• Manage your own portfolio of tax compliance casework whilst juggling competing demands

• Lead conversations with individuals, businesses and professional advisors to challenge assertions in person, by phone and video call.

• Tackle fraud, tax avoidance, and high-profile investigations

• Interpret and apply complex legislation and established case law

• Specialise in a specific tax regime after promotion (e.g. VAT, Corporation Tax)

• Develop leadership, negotiation, and influencing skills

Person specification

What we're looking for

We're seeking individuals who are passionate about public service with the following skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective time management
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Integrity, professionalism, and resilience
• Confidence to express views and take initiative
• Commitment to a 3-4 year structured training programme

What we offer

• Starting salary of £37,682 (£42,631 in London)
• Guaranteed promotion to Grade 7 on successful completion £58,541 (£65,869 In London)
• Weekly virtual learning sessions and hands-on casework
• Supportive office environment with the opportunity for hybrid working with up to 40% of working time remotely. Volunteering opportunities, wellbeing support, and flexible working options

Need more information?

Visit the Civil Service Careers website to learn more about the programme and hear from current trainees.

HMRC Flexible and Hybrid Working Summary

HMRC supports both flexible and hybrid working arrangements to help employees balance work and personal commitments. Applications for flexible working are welcomed and considered in line with operational and customer service needs.

For those joining the development programme, there are specific minimum requirements to ensure success:

• Only one cohort start date is available, and all trainees must be able to start on that date.

• A minimum of 28 working hours per week is required (or the equivalent after any adjustments).

• The programme is intensive and demands significant face-to-face participation in internal and external meetings.

• Learning activities are scheduled throughout your training journey that are fixed and trainees must attend.

• Course timetables may be extended as appropriate to accommodate those who work less than full time hours.

Contractual homeworking will not be considered unless you are already a HMRC homeworker, in which case a one-to-one discussion will be held at the offer stage to assess ability to meet the programme's requirements. Additionally, not all G7 roles that trainees may progress into are suitable for homeworking.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

Family friendly policies.

Personal support.

Coaching and development.

Pension - we make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders.

Pay

External candidates will start on the minimum of the respective pay range, location dependent. Internals and OGD's if applying on promotion will be uplifted to the minimum of the HEO pay range. If you're a current HEO you will remain on your substantive pay unless it's lower than the minimum of a HEO, then you will be uplifted. If your pay exceeds the maximum, you will be capped at the HMRC maximum location dependent.

If you're an SEO, you will remain on your current pay until the end of the programme. If your current pay exceeds the HMRC maximum, you will be capped at the HMRC maximum, location dependent.

On successful completion of the Tax Specialist Programme, you will receive automatic promotion to Grade 7 Tax Specialist role which is a senior leadership position within HMRC. You will receive a one-off bonus of £2,500 and your salary will increase to £58,541.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Ability.

Eligibility

To join the programme, you will need to have a minimum 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6 qualification) at application stage, or the expectation of a 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6) before September 2026. Civil Servants who do not meet the academic qualification can apply if you were recruited through fair and open competition and have passed your probation period before September 2026.

Any internal applicants subject to a Conduct & Discipline sanction are not eligible to apply for the programme or to join the programme should a sanction come into place in advance of take up of duty.

Civil Servants at risk of redundancy will be able to declare this when applying for roles by ticking a box as part of their online application. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a role will then progress to the next Civil Service Online Test.

Note: This role is not eligible for skilled worker sponsorship. The Home Office has specific rules around eligibility for sponsorship. Although HMRC holds a sponsorship licence, this is only offered for certain roles, and this role is not eligible.

Ready to apply?

All appointments are made on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If successful, you'll be expected to uphold the Civil Service values of integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality.

Stage 1: Application & Online Tests

Application deadline: 23:55 on 22 October 2025
Test deadline: 11:30 on 24 October 2025

You'll begin by completing a short eligibility form and two online tests (verbal and numerical). These are untimed and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website. We recommend using a desktop or laptop in a quiet space and completing the tests within 24-48 hours.

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: compliancegrouprecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 429244 Tax Specialist Programme & vacancy closing date 22/10/25 ' .

Online tests

After submission of your full application you will be invited to complete a number of tests. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the deadline for the tests is 11:30 on 24th October 2025.


You must complete your application form before 23:55 on 22 October 2025 to receive invites to the online tests.

If you fail to complete the online tests before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. You can find out more information about the tests and how to practise here.

Please ensure that any technical issues with the tests are reported - with supporting evidence - to compliancegrouprecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk prior to 08:00 on 23rd October 2025. There will be no extension to the deadline for completing the test.

Please also be advised that online tests may only be one element of the application process. You should ensure you set aside plenty of time to undertake the full application process for this role. Late applications will not be accepted.

Banked Scores

If you have taken and passed the Civil Service Verbal and / or Numerical test within the last 6 months at HO level, your score for these tests will be carried over to your application.

If you took the Civil Service Verbal and / or Numerical test more than 6 months ago, or at a different grade, your score will not be used for this role, and you must take it again on this application. You cannot retake the test once it has submitted, so it is important that you take your time and allow plenty of time for it to be submitted. Please note both the Civil Service Verbal and Numerical tests are not timed.

What happens next?

If you meet the minimum standard in both tests, your application will be held for further review. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee progression. We will assess scores, consider the impact on protected groups, and manage progression based on available places.

We may raise the pass mark to manage application volumes. You will be notified if you've met the revised standard. Progression to Stage 2 is based on merit lists for each of our 14 regional centres, and scores may vary by location.

Note: You can only select one location preference, which will apply throughout the recruitment process.

Stage 2: Civil Service Judgement Test

If you progress to the Stage 2, you will be invited to complete the Civil Service Judgement Test. The test is expected to open on 31 October 2025 and you will have until 11:30 on 5 November 2025 to complete the test.

We may raise the pass mark to manage application volumes. You'll be notified if you've met the revised standard. Progression to Stage 3 is based on merit lists for each of our 14 regional centres, and scores may vary by location.

Stage 3: Video Interview

This will be a pre-recorded video interview which is expected to open on 14 November 2025 and will close 23:59 on 21 November 2025.

We may raise the pass mark to manage application volumes. You'll be notified if you've met the revised standard. Progression to Stage 4 is based on merit lists for each of our 14 regional centres, and scores may vary by location.

Stage 4: Assessment Centre

A half-day virtual assessment centre to be held between 9 February 2026 and 27 February 2026 and further information will be provided for successful candidates.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating including using any form of AI will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application/s will be withdrawn from the process. Duplicate applications for the same vacancy will also be withdrawn.

Locations

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations. You will be asked to provide one location preference, and this will remain throughout the selection process.

Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.

Problems during the application process

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. For reasonable adjustments queries or requests, please see details within reasonable adjustments section above. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment centre.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service runs a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

HMRC operates within the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS).

Candidates who tick the DCS box will be invited to take video interview if they meet the minimum standard at online test stage. We have a limited number of video interview slots, so it may not be possible to invite all DCS candidates to this stage. Further information will be provided after the online test stage.

Please also remember to tick the DCS and/or Help Required boxes on your application form if you are applying under the DCS and/or seeking additional support. If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application, review this information on reasonable adjustments, and contact compliancegrouprecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk or tsprecruitmentteam@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Other Tax Professional Posts in HMRC

Where candidates perform well in the application process, but we are unable to offer you a place on the TSP, we may offer opportunities for Higher Officer and/or Officer roles.

Repeat Applications

You cannot re-apply for the same year's intake if you fail at any stage of the application process. Any second application will be flagged as a duplicate and removed from the system.

You can however apply again for the TSP programme the following year.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : TSP Recruitment Team
• Email : tsprecruitmentteam@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : compliancegrouprecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/