Lin Homer steps down as HMRC chief executive and the search for her successor is underway
Lin Homer has announced today that she will be stepping down as chief executive of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in April, after joining just over four years ago.
Homer said:
"After ten years as a chief executive and permanent secretary in the Civil Service, the start of the next Spending Review period seemed to be 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."
A successor for Homer has not been announced, with HMRC saying the process to select a new chief executive is underway.
Additionally, Homer has confirmed that she is not presently seeking her next role and intends to take a break over the summer.
During her time at HMRC, which she joined in January 2012, Homer has seen the UK tax authority boost its total revenue raised by nine per cent.
Meanwhile, in the 2013/14 tax year, HMRC saw its tax gap – the difference between the amount that should theoretically be collected and is actually collected – fall to 6.4 per cent of tax due, which is its lowest level ever.
Chancellor George Osborne remarked:
"Lin Homer has 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."
Sir Jeremy Heywood, cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, added: "Following a succession of challenging and important roles in a long and varied public sector career, Lin has led HM Revenue and Customs for the last four years with great distinction."
Homer continued: "It has been a privilege to have been with HMRC during a period when the improved performance of the Department has been increasingly recognised and we have the full backing of Ministers for our future plans."