Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government
I welcome the publication today of the Welsh Revenue Authority’s (WRA) Annual Report and Accounts for 2020/2021. This report covers the third year of its operation.
The WRA has continued to maintain delivery of its services despite the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Annual Report provides a wide range of information to show the organisation’s achievements.
The WRA, by working with taxpayers and their representatives, focused on adapting their services to improve accessibility during a year where people’s circumstances were often changing. The organisation regularly reprioritised and adjusted resources to meet demand, whilst supporting their teams to work at home, for a prolonged period, with increased family commitments.
The Report reflects the WRA’s continued progress in building its reputation for the assured and competent collection and management of these two taxes. It also demonstrates its resilience in response to two crises (the pandemic and office flooding in February 2020).
This is a great example of the benefits of devolution – enabling innovation within Wales, creating a Welsh way of doing tax that is delivering better outcomes for taxpayers and also ensuring tax risks are tackled efficiently and effectively. The taxes the WRA collects are kept in Wales to be spent on the people in Wales to help improve our public services.
Welsh Revenue Authority: annual report and accounts 2020 to 2021