Tax facts are to be taught at secondary school through a series of new animated films produced by HM Revenue and Customs.

The videos have been created to inform students about some of the key issues they will face as they begin their working lives.

They cover topics including tax dodging and how HMRC is tackling this and what pupils will encounter in their first jobs with national insurance and tax deductions.

These form part of “detailed lesson plans and guidance” handed down to teachers by HMRC officials.

The educational packages have been designed to provide an introduction to the tax system for 14–17 year olds studying citizenship, business enterprise, personal finance and other aspects of the curriculum that prepare them for life beyond school.

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Sue Walton, director of tax professionalism and assurance, HMRC, said: “These videos are an excellent way to start engaging with future taxpayers and help young people prepare for the financial realities of life.

“HMRC wants to help students understand how tax works, so that they know what to expect when they start earning. By explaining to them how tax is used and the link with vital public services, young people will learn to appreciate the importance of paying tax.”

Ashley Tomlin, deputy headteacher at Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke, said: “Tax facts is a useful resource for teachers, helping promote financial awareness to young people and bringing alive the idea of raising and spending public money.

“It is a flexible resource that can be customised to fit different teaching styles, the amount of time available and the curriculum."

The four videos are:

• ‘About HMRC’ – a background to HMRC’s work and the basics of the tax system.
• ‘Starting Your First Job’ – what to expect when you enter the world of work, such as tax deductions and National Insurance contributions.
• ‘Working For Yourself’ – what to do if you’re planning to become self-employed.
• ‘The Hidden Economy’ – how people try to get out of paying their taxes and what HMRC is doing to tackle this.

The videos can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/1MpfJiM