ECSH112000 - Contact with customers: Secure comms
Secure communications (comms) are听补n acceptable听method听of communications with businesses during and after registration, alerting businesses that there is a message to be viewed, or an action to undertake,听in a secure way. When a secure comms听is generated,听补n email is sent to the business, using the email听补ddress听provided by it,听informing听it听that there is a message in its听government gateway account. The听business must log on to its government gateway account to听view the message.听
It is important that the business takes the action specified as the failure to do so听could result in a sanction being imposed.听 For example, if a business is sent a notice via secure comms informing it of its听failure to pay the annual fee and does not take the necessary corrective action specified in that secure comms, its registration can be automatically cancelled.听By issuing notices via secure comms, the notice is considered to be听served on the business, unless we become aware that the email has bounced back.听听
Secure comms are听generated听by authorisations in order to听provide businesses with updates: examples can include updates听on their registration applications,听notifying听them听when their annual supervision fee听is due,听and requests听for further information or evidence in relation to their application.听听
Normally we provide businesses with 21 days to respond to secure comms requesting further information, unless听there is a specific need for a shorter deadline.听听
Secure comms are听not used for compliance听interventions or other HMRC听communications听to businesses.听听
Some听secure comms are听manually generated and there are different templates for the various requests for further information. The templates are available听here.听听The SWI for creating secure comms听is available here. 听
There are听补lso automatic secure comms 鈥� these are used for when businesses need to pay their annual supervision fee, such as the 鈥淔ee Outstanding鈥� secure comm. These are automatically generated and do not need to be manually created.听