A loyal reader sent me this yesterday, re HMRC's address database.
"We received a letter from HMRC a couple of weeks ago for one of our client companies, who use our office as their Registered Office.
HMRC were threatening enforcement action for an amount of £400 (which wasn't due because there is a P35 overpayment to cover it).
We phoned them and quite rightly had to go through their security procedures, but were surprised that the company's address in HMRC's records did not correspond with the Registered Office address. They asked if there was another address, and we gave them the trading address which they said was correct.
This week the company received another letter, but this time it was sent to the trading address not the Registered Office.
Leaving aside the fact we had told them the £400 was the wrong amount of tax outstanding, and that we agreed the liability would be held over until the end of this week, we can't help thinking we were tricked by HMRC into providing an alternative address to help them with their enforcement actions."
Views and comments welcome.
Tax does have to be taxing.
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Not that it excuses what occurred but it could be as simple as the system HMRC uses to check addresses for registered offices being wrong or lagging behind (post delays as well?).
ReplyDeleteEither way feck 'em the Independant Police Complaints Commission has recently announced a review/consultation into HMRC complaints handling procedure.
Do take advantage of this golden opportunity wheresoever ye may hail from in commerce, "customer", agent, accountant etc.
Let these insolent ba@tards learn once and for all the law applies to them not just everyone else but them!!!
Firstly, as a trading Limited company there will have been an employers scheme which will have been noted on the employers record.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the days of HMRC being allowed to informally postpone collection are long gone, you have to write in requesting postponement (though they'll probably lose the letter).
Thirdly, as I assume you are an accountant, if one of their staff called at your office and I am assuming in this that they would send a member of their own distraint staff out to visit (as opposed to passing the alleged debt over to a debt collection agency), they would need to call at the trading address. I assume you told them that you were the accountant acting and not a responsible officer therefore I would think that they are correct in what they did (in THIS instance at least). You say you feel as though you've been tricked? Why? You confirmed an address on their record (the trading address) and there was no point in visiting an accountants address to collect money if due. Why was the PAYE overpaid? My employer takes tax and NI off my salary according to my earnings, I would hope that they are taking the right amount according to tax and national insurance tables and not overdeducting from my salary and claiming the money back to pay THEIR corporation tax bill!!!!
I meant to say the trading address for the employers scheme will have been noted on the employers record
ReplyDeleteIf you have an agent appointed to look after your affairs that will be noted on your records surely as you will have had to notify the "muppets" and sign an authority that confirms the agent is authorised to act on your behalf?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a case of left hand not knowing what the right is doing. HMRC systems don't talk to each other, bit like management and staff really. So it is quite possible that debt management can't read your tax agent details.
polournIf you have an agent appointed to look after your affairs that will be noted on your records surely as you will have had to notify the "muppets" and sign an authority that confirms the agent is authorised to act on your behalf?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a case of left hand not knowing what the right is doing. HMRC systems don't talk to each other, bit like management and staff really. So it is quite possible that debt management can't read your tax agent details.
Aaaaawwwwww, Diddums. Did the nasty tax man trick you???? Perhaps you should be more careful with your clients data.......
ReplyDelete"Aaaaawwwwww, Diddums. Did the nasty tax man trick you???? Perhaps you should be more careful with your clients data......."
ReplyDeleteMaybe their staff should attend an HMRC course of data security.
Sorry, I meant maybe HMRC staff should attend a course on data security.
no - the HMRC data security policy is the best one I've ever seen. It's so secure, that nobody can find or access it.
ReplyDeleteOnce more HM Robbing C###ts (the implacible 103rd's) ride into battle on behalf of taxpayer, wearing only their shield of arrogance and ignorance for defense, but safe in the knowledge they unaccountable and therefore invincible.
ReplyDeleteNot so much 'lions led by donkeys', more a case donkeys led by cretins methinks!
08.52
ReplyDeleteLearn to spell, cretin.
18:53 I would be more embarrassed to be known as an HMRC employee than a bad speller.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no!
ReplyDeleteDon't fight amongst yourselves children, set an example or Uncle Ken will have to be called in to beat you with a stick.
Stick, that were luxury, when I were a lad I were beaten with barbed wire.
Barbed wire, that were luxury, when I were a lad I lived int shoe box int hole in ground, our Dad used to beat us with the hind leg of a dead cow, now that were luxury.
Stop squabbling you prats it detracts from the real issues.
Now, cover me in sellotape and rip it off.....STFU!