HO Compliance Caseworker – Vaping Products Duty (466R) – Belfast Regional Centre (BT1 4GF)

Higher Officer Compliance Caseworker: Vaping Products Duty – HMRC

HMRC is preparing for a landmark shift in excise legislation: the implementation of the Vaping Products Duty in 2026. As a Higher Officer (HO) Compliance Caseworker based in the Belfast Regional Centre, you will be at the forefront of this new tax regime. Your role is dual-purpose: supporting the UK government’s smoking strategy and ensuring the integrity of the tax system by policing the production and import of vape products. This is a high-impact, national role that combines deep financial analysis with frontline operational activity.

About the Role

This position is not desk-bound. You will be a key player in the Customer Compliance Group (CCG), tasked with the ongoing assurance of the vaping duty. This involves visiting business premises—including factories and warehouses—to review financial records and identify discrepancies. You may also be involved in other excise regimes, such as alcohol and tobacco, including the physical seizure and movement of illicit goods. Given the nature of the industry, you must be prepared to handle potentially confrontational situations with professionalism and firmness.

Key Responsibilities

• Regime Implementation: Support the rollout of the Vaping Products Duty, starting with company registrations six months prior to the August 2026 launch.

• Assurance & Investigation: Conduct thorough reviews of financial records to identify non-compliance and investigate potential fraud linked to international supply chains.

• Operational Visits: Carry out announced and unannounced visits to business premises. This may involve prolonged periods in noisy, busy environments like production sites.

• Evidence-Based Decision Making: Apply new tax legislation to complex data sets, making robust decisions that you can defend in a tribunal court if challenged.

• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Work alongside other government departments and law enforcement agencies to respond to intelligence regarding the movement of goods.

• Public Education: Communicate complex tax laws effectively to help the “honest majority” get their tax right.

Person Specification (Essential Criteria)

• Communication: Proven ability to document and communicate complex investigation outcomes both verbally and in writing.

• Judgment: A track record of making evidence-based decisions and providing clear, logical reasoning for those choices.

• Analytical Skills: High numerical proficiency and the ability to interpret complex data to find “needles in haystacks.”

• Resilience: Confidence to operate in confrontational environments and manage difficult customer interactions.

• Adaptability: Willingness to travel nationally (including overnight stays) and respond to shifting priorities at short notice.

Salary, Benefits & Working Pattern

• Salary: £36,320 + Employer Pension Contribution of £10,521 (28.97%).

• Working Hours: 37 hours per week (operating hours are 7am–8pm, Monday to Saturday).

• Hybrid Working: Expectation to be in the Belfast Regional Centre for 60% of your working time.

• Leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30) plus public holidays.

• Security: Successful candidates may require Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance.

Selection Process: 3-Stage Success Profiles

1. Application: Includes the Civil Service Verbal Test and Work Strengths Test. You must also submit statement examples (250 words each) for the following behaviours:

   • Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)

   • Communicating and Influencing

   • Working Together

2. Sift: Initial assessment of your behaviour statements (initial sift may focus solely on Making Effective Decisions).

3. Virtual Interview: Conducted via Teams. This will include behaviour-based questions and Strength-based questions (e.g., assessing your motivations and natural aptitudes).

Vaping Statistics (UK Context)

To provide context for the scale of this new duty, consider the following current data points:

• User Population: As of late 2024/early 2025, approximately 5.2 million adults in Great Britain use e-cigarettes (roughly 10% of the population).

• Demographics: Vaping prevalence is highest among those aged 18-24 (approx. 16-18%) compared to those aged 65+ (approx. 3-4%).

• Market Scale: The UK vape market is estimated to be worth over £1.3 billion annually, highlighting the significant revenue potential for the new duty.