Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Right, i'll be brief.

-I used to be self emplyed upto April 2007. Since this date, I have worked for a company where my tax is paid at source.

-Today I have received a £100 fine for not filing my tax return?

-Where do I stand?

OllyK

I suppose the first question is - did they send you a self assessment form?

HankScorpio

IF you recieved a tax return and didn't send it back completed, you'll get a £100 fine.
I had to do them for 7 years after stopping being self employed.

Little fact that will help - they can't fine you more than the tax you owe, for those seven years, mine was never on time, one bill was over £1500 in fines, interest, payment on account for the next year. When I eventually filled in the form and sent it back, I owed them £2.10 so the total bill was £4.20. I had this for scenario several times.

Fill in the paperwork (might still get online) and go from there.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Yes, but I haven't been self employed for the last financial year and I have been paying my tax at source. Surely they can see that!

HankScorpio

You'd think, but as I said, took 7 years before they stopped sending them to me. Being late probably didn't help but I only stopped last year after being PAYE since 2001 despite calling them every year.

Devildog

Chris, its irrelevant.

If they send you a form, you have to fill it in. Call the HMRC office and explain. Say you never got a return to complete.

If you are lucky you should get away with it.

hodgy0_2

yep, they send you one for the simple reason they send me one

I am on paye -- but also have income from rented property, so unless you tell them, you no longer need one -- which will be the same as saying you have no other income then they will continue to send you one

having said that I have always found the HMRC to be v v v helpful, I would have thought you will prob "get away" with it -- not that you getting away with anything

it might be an idea to go down to you local Tax office and be v v polite and explain the situation

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

The fine is levied at a maximum of the tax due capped at £100 (at this point). If you don't owe then you don't get fined.

D

Dedrater

Phone them up and tell them to **** right off, in a more polite manner as you don't need to pay them anything.

zip106

This morning (4th March) I got a red final demand letter from HMRC saying that I haven't paid my tax bill and that interest is now accruing from the 28th February.
The letter was dated 16th Feb and I only got it today.

Funny thing is, I paid my tax on 18th January through my bank so I know it's been received by HMRC.

I'm now just waiting for the next letter, apologising.

Bunch of feckwits, the lot of them.

David Lock

How are they supposed to know that unless you tell them?

Lots of peeps have "proper" PAYE jobs and a self-employed income.

dl

austinwrx

well my fiance works for the revenue- the simple answer is you are liable for sorting yr tax out.

they are not telepathic and can't guess yr employment/wage etc. The amount of people that leave returns to the deadline of 31/1/09 each yr is staggering, especially since they've had 9 mths to get their finger out and submit.

don't know yr case, but I'd ring them asap- because they have more power than anyone to fine you/take money/hit yr wages.

a nasty big brutal organisation. She fookin hates them but its a job.

MJW

Exactly the same thing has happened to me. Received a letter from HMRC yesterday, dated 16th Feb & demanding I pay by the 28th of Feb. I haven't even had any correspondence from them to tell me that any tax was due !

Nurse Gladys

You should ring them straight away and tell them you never received the return, hence you didn't send it back!

They should then issue a 'duplicate' and you will have 3 months to complete it from the date of issue.

Don't ever ignore their correspondence, that is like a red rag to a bull (or an office full of bulls!!)

You will also need to request the employment pages & fill these in with the details from your last P60 from your employer (total income for the year & tax deducted.)

If you had no self employed income just complete it as zeros - but within the boxes or they will send it back.

If you need any further help or info pm me.

finalzero

send a reply with a picture of a spider (hand drawn by you) and tell em you are paying the fine with a picture of a spider.

MJW

Lol, I'll value the drawing at £737.93 !

I'll have a word with my accountant about it ...

Clarebabes

I had one of these once, and like you thought I didn't have to do one. Sent them the info back toute suite and they refunded the fine. No problem.

I also nearly got stung for not declaring some rental income from 2004... The guy was really helpful and listened to me on a number of occasions giving me helpful advice, so they're not all bad. I ended up not owing them anything for that either. That one did give me a major headache!

zip106

Have spoken to my accountant about my little problem with HMRC.
Apparently it all stems from changes to Capital Allowances. HM think I owe them more than I have actually paid (I don't).

My accountant wrote to HMRC in January about my circumstances, she 'phoned them today and was told they have at least an 8 week back-log of work and most probably haven't even opened the accompanying letter, and for me to ignore the final demand.

That's easy for them to say!

I'm not looking forward to the months of letter writing and 'phone calls I just know are going to happen.

Spooky Mulder

Again it is your responsibility to work it out - even if you are taxed at source.

Just from my perspective when I was emplyed I got a tax return to complete every year. Now I work for my own company I don't!!

Go figure (well actually my accountant does all the figuring!)

Nurse Gladys

Great to hear they are keeping to their 'promised' 28 day turn around of post!

Another of Mr Browns GREAT ideas, to streamline government departments & cut jobs!

I was one of the lucky ones - I ran last year with a pay off big enough to buy my Scooby!!!

Now I just have the 'fun' of dealing with them as a member of the public (with a few contacts!!)