Support members in VOA - Contact you MP about the hostile takeover

In April 2025 the then exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray MP announced that the Valuations Office Agency (VOA) would be integrated into Revenue and Customs (R&C) by April 2026 without any discussion with PCS. 

At the time assurances were given to members that the move would have little impact on members day to day lives or the services they provide which include dealing with council atx, business rates, setting local housing allowance rates and right to buy valuations. This work contributed over £60 billion to fund public services and forms the majority of funding for councils.

When the announcement of the integration was made PCS members were assured by senior leaders in both VOA and R&C there would be no detriment because of the transfer and that they were considered valued assets of the VOA. They were told they might not even notice the transfer in practical terms and there would be virtually no change to their working lives or the services they provide.

Since then PCS, along with the other recognised trade union, Prospect, has started talks with the employer about the integration and a very different picture has emerged. Wherever there is a difference in staff policies, terms or conditions there is an expectation that VOA staff will adopt the HMRC version unless agreed otherwise (and there are virtually none which they are willing to agree).

In some cases this is beneficial but on a whole number of terms these could be detrimental and HMRC has strongly indicated they expect to enforce the move to their terms.

Of great concern to members, R&C has refused to provide assurances on the future of VOA offices outside existing R&C regional hubs, beyond current lease periods. This means that for some offices they have very little certainty of the future of their workplaces with only around a year on the lease post-integration.

The whole situation raises serious questions about the autonomy of VOA post-integration and the service provided to the public

We're asking members to contact your MP and support our campaign to ensure members in VOA are protected, promises to them, parliament and the public are kept, and the vital service our members provide is safeguarded.