Welcome to ‘GOV.UK Chat’, the AI-generated search tool housed within the Gov.UK app. This will find the relevant answers to simple questions from the many thousands of Gov.UK guidance pages.
HMRC’s Press Release launching the ‘GOV.UK Chat’ tool says that using the app instead of calling HMRC will free up time for staff who take up to 100,000 calls each day. Without these calls, humans will be able to concentrate on ‘complex cases’. In this regard, it is to be welcomed.
Housed within the Gov.UK app, GOV.UK Chat will direct users to the relevant Gov.UK guidance pages and the Press Release suggests questions such as:
- ‘How much Stamp Duty will I pay as a first-time buyer?’;
- ‘How do I find out how much State Pension I’ll get?’; and
- ‘How do I set up a limited company?’
Therefore, this can be used professionally and personally. However, just like Gov.UK guidance itself, whilst ICB supports this tool, we highlight two major considerations:
1. Despite its name, Gov.UK only applies to things that apply UK-wide or in England. The question ‘How can I find an apprenticeship?’ will bring up apprenticeships in England only, as this is a devolved area. Gov.UK is not always relevant for individuals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; so
2. When it comes to questions about taxes, e.g. the suggested one about Stamp Duty, does this ignore / trivialise the fact that this does not apply in Scotland or Wales?
For Bookkeepers
ICB supports any initiative that will help source relevant guidance on Gov.UK. This is complicated enough to navigate. However, we urge members not to forget there are other sources of information available where the area is devolved:
The new tool, within the Gov.UK app is useful and we encourage members to download this and test for yourself.