Tax Specialist Programme

Tax Specialist Programme 2027 – HMRC

Visa Sponsorship: Not Available – This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is recruiting 500 candidates for its Tax Specialist Programme 2027, offering a permanent position from day one, structured professional training and a career pathway towards becoming a Senior Tax Specialist.

The programme is suitable for graduates and eligible existing Civil Servants who want to develop a career in tax. Previous tax experience, an accounting qualification or a finance-related degree is not required.

Successful candidates will gain practical experience handling tax cases, analysing evidence, working with customers and resolving tax enquiries while undertaking a structured three-to-four-year development programme.

Job Overview

• Employer: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Job Title: Tax Specialist Programme 2027
• Reference Number: 484623
• Job Reference Code: 2016804
• Salary: £37,682–£46,077 per year
• Starting Grade: Higher Executive Officer
• Salary on Successful Completion: £58,541 nationally or £65,869 in London at Grade 7
• Contract: Permanent
• Number of Vacancies: 500
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time and flexible working
• Minimum Working Hours: 28 hours per week
• Programme Duration: Approximately 3–4 years
• Locations: Multiple locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Closing Date: 26 October 2026 at 11:55 pm
• Skilled Worker Sponsorship: Not available

Job Locations

The vacancies are available in the following locations:

• Belfast
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Croydon
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• Manchester
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• Nottingham
• Portsmouth
• Stratford

Applicants must select one preferred location when submitting their application. The selected location will remain their preference throughout the recruitment process, so candidates should choose a location they can travel to and work from if appointed.

About the Tax Specialist Programme

The Tax Specialist Programme is HMRC’s structured training route for people who want to build a long-term career in the tax profession.

From the beginning of the programme, successful candidates will take on real responsibilities, working on tax cases involving individuals, businesses and professional advisers.

The programme combines practical workplace experience with formal learning, independent study and assessments. Trainees will receive support from experienced tax professionals, learning specialists and Business Learning Managers as they develop their technical knowledge and professional skills.

On successful completion, candidates will receive automatic promotion to Grade 7, subject to meeting the programme requirements.

Key Responsibilities

As a trainee tax specialist, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing your workload and priorities while working with complex information.
• Investigating tax cases involving individuals, businesses and professional advisers.
• Communicating with customers and their representatives through meetings, telephone calls, video calls and written correspondence.
• Gathering and evaluating evidence to understand individual tax situations.
• Reviewing evidence and resolving tax enquiries.
• Helping customers meet their tax obligations and ensuring the correct amount of tax is collected.
• Applying statutory interest and penalties where appropriate.
• Developing specialist knowledge across Corporation Tax, Personal Tax, VAT, Employment Duties and Customs.
• Building communication, negotiation, influencing and decision-making skills.
• Developing professional judgement and leadership capabilities throughout the programme.

The role contributes to a fair and effective tax system and helps ensure that tax revenue is collected to support public services across the UK.

Training and Development

The programme combines practical tax casework with structured learning and professional assessments.

Candidates should be prepared to undertake:

• Customer-facing tax casework.
• Formal training and development activities.
• Independent study.
• Written and verbal assessments.
• On-the-job learning with experienced tax professionals.

The programme is demanding and requires organisation, resilience and a commitment to continuous development. Trainees must demonstrate satisfactory progress in their workplace responsibilities and formal assessments.

Successful completion provides a pathway into a specialist tax career within HMRC.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Tax Specialist Programme 2027, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

Route 1: Graduates and qualification holders

Applicants must hold, or expect to achieve by September 2027, at least a 2:2 degree or an equivalent Level 6 qualification.

Route 2: Existing Civil Servants

Applicants who do not hold a degree-level qualification may be eligible if they are current Civil Servants recruited through fair and open competition and have successfully completed their probation before September 2027.

Additional eligibility conditions apply. Applicants subject to a Conduct and Discipline sanction are not eligible to join the programme.

Skills and Personal Qualities

HMRC is looking for candidates who are interested in analytical work and developing a professional career in tax.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• The ability to analyse complex information and consider different viewpoints.
• Curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Professionalism and sound judgement.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Resilience and determination.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to structured professional development.

Previous tax experience is not required. Applicants do not need an accounting qualification or a finance-related degree.

Candidates from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Working Hours and Hybrid Working

HMRC supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements where business requirements permit.

However, the Tax Specialist Programme has specific attendance and participation requirements:

• A minimum of 28 working hours per week is required.
• Trainees must work from an HMRC office for at least 60% of their working time.
• Attendance at classroom-based learning events and programme activities is required.
• Travel may be necessary for meetings, customer visits and other work-related activities.
• Part-time working may extend the overall duration of the programme.

The position cannot be performed entirely from home. Contractual homeworking will not be considered unless the applicant is already an HMRC homeworker, in which case an individual discussion will take place at the offer stage.

Applicants should also be aware that not all Grade 7 positions available after completing the programme are suitable for homeworking.

Salary and Benefits

The advertised salary depends on the location and grade.

Starting salary – Higher Officer:

• National locations: £37,682–£40,705 per year.
• London: £42,631–£46,077 per year.

Salary after successful completion at Grade 7:

• National locations: £58,541 per year.
• London: £65,869 per year.

The salary for existing substantive Senior Officers applying to the programme will be subject to HMRC’s applicable salary cap.

Other benefits include:

• Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of at least 28.97%.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days, increasing to 30 days with qualifying service.
• Flexible and hybrid working options where business needs allow.
• Learning and professional development opportunities.
• Family-friendly policies.
• Wellbeing support.
• A diverse and inclusive working environment.

Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work

Important: This vacancy is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Applicants who require HMRC to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa for this position should not rely on this vacancy as a sponsorship route.

The advert states that the position is broadly open to eligible groups, including UK and Irish nationals, eligible Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, certain EU and associated nationals with the required EU Settlement Scheme status, and other specified categories of people who meet the Civil Service nationality rules.

Meeting the nationality requirements does not automatically establish eligibility for every applicant. Candidates should check the full official guidance before applying.

Application and Selection Process

The recruitment process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework and assesses candidates’ abilities.

Applicants should read the TSP Recruitment Process Candidate Guide before submitting an application. The guide explains eligibility, location preferences, recruitment dates, assessment stages, reasonable adjustments and other important information.

The selection process includes the Civil Service Styles Assessment. Candidates may be assessed against all nine Civil Service Behaviours during the recruitment process, with four behaviours additionally assessed at the final assessment centre for candidates invited to that stage.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review HMRC’s programme information, trainee stories and other recruitment resources to understand the demands of the programme before applying.

Only one application may be submitted for the 2027 intake. Duplicate applications will be removed from the recruitment process.

Candidates who perform strongly but are not offered a place on the programme may be considered for other suitable tax professional opportunities within HMRC at Higher Officer or Officer grade.

Successful candidates must undergo the required criminal record and baseline personnel security checks.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official Civil Service Jobs website before the deadline.

Closing date: 26 October 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Before applying, confirm that you meet the qualification or Civil Service eligibility requirements, can attend an HMRC office for at least 60% of your working time, and can meet the programme’s learning and assessment commitments.

Employer: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Job Reference: 484623