HMRC boss Lin Homer to quit in April

HM Revenue and Customs chief executive Lin Homer is set to leave in April after more than four years in the role, during which time she came under fire for HMRC’s failure to answer millions of calls.

In a statement on Monday, Homer – who also faced criticism for her handling of tax avoiders and her failures as head of the UK Border Agency – said the start of the next Spending Review “seemed a sensible time to move on”.

“HMRC has secured Ministerial support and funding for our ambitious transformation programme and it has the leadership team in place to deliver it. My successor will be able to put their full weight behind seeing the transformation through to 2020,” she said.

The process to select a new chief executive for HMRC is now underway and more details will be provided in due course.

Despite Homer’s shortcomings, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said she had made “a real contribution to public service modernisation and transformation”.

“She has put the foundations in place that will see HMRC become one of the most digitally-advanced tax authorities in the world. It is to Lin’s great credit that the National Audit Office last year judged HMRC to be one of the strongest Departments in Government – a legacy of which she can be rightly proud.”

Homer said she was not actively looking for a role and intends to take a break over the summer. She added that she would aim not to take on any jobs related to her work at HMRC once she enters the private sector.

“I will be fully sensitive to the responsibility and care that senior HMRC officials should take when considering the appropriateness of potential roles and organisations.”