HMRC – Tax Facts

HM Revenue and Customs has recently added to its award-winning Tax Facts education resources with a home learning pack. Young people aged 8-17 can teach themselves about tax through a series of fun activities to support the Tax Facts series of YouTube animations. Featuring information, quizzes and other interactive exercises, children can learn about what tax is, why we pay it and what they need to do to become a responsible, future taxpayer.

This home learning pack builds on the existing teaching packs, available in both English and Welsh, which include lesson plans built around several short animations:

1. About HMRC — provides a general overview of what HMRC does, how taxes are collected and how the money is used (4 mins, 36 secs)
2. Starting Your First Job — a young person’s guide to the tax implications of starting your first job — whether it’s a part-time job, a Saturday job or holiday work (5 mins, 58 secs)
3. Working For Yourself — a simple introduction to the tax implications of starting a small business and becoming self-employed (6 mins, 12 secs)
4. The Hidden Economy — an explanation of the hidden economy, what it is, its impact on society and how HMRC is tackling the problem (6 mins, 15 secs)
5. Junior Tax Facts — introduces primary school pupils to the subject of taxation by explaining that taxes are the money that people and businesses have to pay to the government. (5 mins, 58 secs)