HM Revenue and Customs facts for kids

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (often called HMRC) is a special part of the UK government. It's like a big office that helps run the country.

HMRC has a few important jobs. Its main task is to collect taxes from people and businesses. Taxes are money that helps pay for things like schools, hospitals, and roads. HMRC also helps pay out some types of welfare money, which is financial support for people who need it. They also make sure rules like the minimum wage are followed.

HMRC was created on 18 April 2005. It was formed when two older government groups, the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, joined together. The symbol for HMRC is the St Edward's Crown inside a circle.

What Does HMRC Do?

HMRC has several key roles that help the UK work smoothly.

Collecting Taxes

One of HMRC's biggest jobs is collecting taxes. Everyone who earns money or buys things pays taxes. This money goes to the government. The government then uses these funds to pay for public services. These services include schools, hospitals, police, and roads. Without taxes, the government couldn't provide these important things.

Paying Welfare

HMRC also helps people by paying out certain types of welfare. This money supports families, people with disabilities, and those who are unemployed. It helps make sure everyone has some financial support when they need it.

Enforcing Rules

Another role of HMRC is to make sure certain rules are followed. For example, they help ensure that businesses pay their workers at least the minimum wage. This is the lowest amount of money an employer can legally pay their employees. They also deal with customs, which means checking goods that come into or leave the country. This helps stop illegal items from entering the UK.

How Was HMRC Formed?

HMRC is a relatively new government department.

Joining Forces

Before 2005, there were two separate groups. One was called the Inland Revenue. It collected taxes from people's income and businesses. The other was Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. This group collected taxes on goods and controlled borders. On 18 April 2005, these two groups combined. They became one big department: HMRC. This made it easier to manage all tax and customs matters.

The HMRC Symbol

The logo of HMRC is the St. Edward's Crown. This crown is a very important symbol in the UK. It is used in royal ceremonies. The crown in the logo is placed inside a circle. This symbol represents the authority and importance of HMRC.

Images for kids

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  HMRC's main offices are at 100 Parliament Street, Westminster.

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  HMRC looks at the 'tax gap'. This is the difference between the tax that should be collected and what actually is.

See also

In Spanish: HM Revenue and Customs para niños