Jim Harra has been confirmed as permanent Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary with effect from 29 October 2019. Jim was formerly the Second Permanent Secretary and has been covering the role of Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary on an interim basis, following Jon Thompson’s move to the Financial Reporting Council.
Jim Harra began his career in the Inland Revenue as an Inspector of Taxes in 1984. In January 2009, he was appointed Director of Corporation Tax and VAT, responsible for optimising the design and delivery of these business taxes.
He became Director of Personal Tax Customer Operations in March 2011, and Director Personal Tax Operations in October 2011. He was appointed Director General Business Tax on 16 April 2012. Mr Harra took up the post as HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive on 1 January 2018.
Jim Harra was appointed as HMRC’s First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive in October 2019.
Mr Harra held the following previous roles in government :
- 2019: Interim Chief Executive
- 2018 to 2019: Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary
- 2016 to 2019: Tax Assurance Commissioner
- 2016 to 2017: Director General Customer Strategy and Tax Design
- 2012 to 2016: Director General Business Tax