HMRC helps teenagers prepare for world of work

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has today launched two new educational videos to help prepare teenagers for working life.

One of the videos will help 14 to 17 year olds understand what it means when they receive their national insurance number and the benefits of using a personal tax account.

The other new video is aimed at young people beginning work or apprenticeships in the construction industry and will help them understand the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Both videos are part of HMRC’s Tax Facts programme which supports teachers in helping their students learn and understand the facts about tax.

Tax Facts is a comprehensive teachers’ pack, designed to provide an introduction to the tax system for 14 to 17 year olds studying citizenship, business enterprise, personal finance, and other aspects of the curriculum that prepare them for life beyond school.

The scheme provides teachers with detailed lesson plans and guidance along with a number of HMRC-produced short, animated videos which inform students about some of the key tax issues they will face as they begin their working lives.

The latest educational videos in the Tax Facts programme which launched today are:

Tax Facts - First Steps: Your National Insurance Number and Personal Tax Account -  why your National Insurance number is important and the benefits of managing your tax affairs through an online Personal Tax Account

Tax Facts: Introduction to the Construction Industry Scheme – if you’re planning to work in the construction industry, what the Construction Industry Scheme is, the types of work it covers and how it operates.

Mel Stride MP, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury said:

“The tax system funds the vital public services that we all rely on. Understanding how it works is of vital importance – both so that people can engage with their personal finances in the modern world, and to inform our vigorous national debate.

“These excellent new additions to HMRC’s award-winning Tax Facts programme are designed specifically for young people. They will help students to manage their future tax affairs, know what support is available and learn about why tax matters.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Tax Facts animations are available on HMRC’s YouTube channel and the teachers’ resources are published on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website.

2. Tax Facts for 14 to 17 year-olds was launched in July 2015 and includes four short animations and a comprehensive teachers’ pack, designed to provide an introduction to the tax system for secondary school students studying Citizenship, business enterprise, personal finance and others aspects of the curriculum, that help prepare them for life beyond school.

3. Junior Tax Facts was launched in October 2016. It provides a simple introduction to tax for 8 to 11 year-olds, by explaining that taxes provide the money needed to pay for the things that are essential to them, their families, communities and society as a whole.

4. All the material is available for schools and charities to use, free of charge.

5. Tax Facts’ and ‘Junior Tax Facts have been accredited with the Personal Finance Education Group (PFEG) and Association for Citizenship Teachers (ACT) Quality Marks.

6. The programme won the 2017 Institute for Continuous Improvement in Public Services (ICiPS) Education Award. ‘Tax Facts’ was also named the ‘Best Free Educational Resource’ in the 2016 Education Resources Awards.

7. Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

8. HMRC’s Flickr channel www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk