Dear Sean
Re: Alternative release times request
Thank you for your letter of 17 March 2022 detailing the request for an alternative release time for:
- HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK (7:00am, monthly)
- Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information (7:00am, monthly, published by ONS)
- VAT gap estimates (3:00pm at fiscal events)
These statistics will continue to be published at the times noted above.
You have clarified that the tax receipts and NI contributions and earnings statistics are released to coincide with the key economic statistics published by Office for National Statistics. Coherent release of related statistics is an important means of enabling users to gain a full insight of important figures.
Thank you also for confirming the nature of the release arrangements for the VAT gap estimates that are released to provide further insight into information used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the spring and autumn statements. I agree that transparent release of these figures in an orderly way best supports users in this area.
We welcome your plans to ensure that users are fully informed of the release arrangements and understand the reasons for the alternative release times.
I am therefore content you have demonstrated the alternative release time will enable these statistics to better serve the public good.
Yours sincerely
Ed Humpherson
Director General for Regulation