It seems that "time to pay" agreements made by taxpayers with HMRC regarding tax debts are not always honoured by HMRC.
The FT reports that business owners who have thought that they have made a "time to pay" agreement with HMRC, have been less than pleased to receive letters from third party debt collection agencies threatening them with confiscation of their assets.
These letters are being sent to businesses who have not breached the repayment terms agreed with HMRC.
The letters often include phrases such as "our records suggest that you have ignored our previous requests" and "if you do not comply with our request we have to assume you are unwilling to pay and will take distraint action which may involve taking your assets".
However, HMRC are of the view that there is no problem. They are quoted by the FT:
"Each time-to-pay arrangement exists for a specific debt or debts, so debts not covered by the arrangement may be sent to a debt collection agency (DCA).
If, exceptionally, a customer believes that a debt included in an arrangement has been referred to a DCA, it should contact us immediately."
So that's alright then, simply contact HMRC immediately and the problem will be resolved!
Tax does have to be taxing.
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"The Untouchables" !!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3546297/Tax-dodging-sport-star-coughs-up-2million.html
Good result.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that caught my eye was this:
"The £150,000-a-year tax chief has turned down 20 offers from private firms to jump ship and advise them how to dodge tax."
How long would he last without his power to abuse and bend the rules?
He said: "My colleagues and I do an important job and we enjoy it."
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of rubbish - does he not know that we are 103rd out of 103? HE may enjoy it (giving huge amounts of tax back to his friends) but I can assure him that none of his "colleagues" do.
This whole farming out to the four designated DCA's (In my case,'(UN)Fair'fax Solicitors)is mightily confusing, as if HMRC was not enough of a dog's breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHMRC state one thing and the appointed goons assert another.
All they do is send generic paper demands on a weekly basis....which gradually builds in intensity (like a state sponsored orgasm), then they say they are 'on hold' while they report BACK to HMRC....then within a few days they are back with renewed vigour (not explaining what HMRC had advisied in their 'reporting back')....then this week, another change of tactic. A cute little pink card states: 'We have written to you and tried unsuccessfully to contact you'(shame) once again asserting that they need to SPEAK with me as a 'matter of urgency' (not to me it's not pal.)
Their NEXT step, is, apparently, to 'instruct an agent' (what, ANOTHER BLOOMIN'AGENT?)to contact me.
I am unsure as to whether this would be a 'doorstep' jobby/storming of my sturdy ramparts (they do not specify), but I will await with baited breath (since this foreplay is getting a little tedious)at their gross ineptitude......
Local news of a case her
ReplyDeletehttp://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/8999610.Award_winning_nurse_sent__threatening_letter__over_tax_blunder/
Truncated! bum!
ReplyDeletetry again wiv taggy things.
Although I strongly disagree with the general harrassment and hard approach, the lady in the story noted above claims that the staff in Kingston tax office completed her paperwork for her, did she not check it prior to signing to ensure correctness? After all, these forms are not called 'self assessment' for fun. (I'm assuming it was SA at this point).
ReplyDeleteI have just sent this cute little template back to them:
ReplyDelete'Please be advised that I will only communicate with you in writing. I have noted your repeated attempts to contact me over the past few weeks and these have been duly logged by time and date. Should it be your intention to arrange a doorstep visit, please be advised that under OFT rules, you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment with you.
There is an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.). Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action will be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance.'
As they say in Dad's Army: 'They don't like it up 'em'!!
I'm no legal expert but that sounds a bit like something the old Freemen of the Land conspiracy nuts would write. Will be interesting to see if it gets you any where.
ReplyDelete@11.21. As long as it amuses you. Cos that's all it will do.
ReplyDelete2 May 2011 11:21, good luck with that one but remember two things.
ReplyDelete1. HMRC takes months to process post.
2. Once HMRC opens their post they bin anything that does not bring money in.
As author of post 11.21, I did indeed do it for light relief and amusement, and since I am paying postage and fee for recorded/registered post on an almost WEEKLY basis to the HMRC Junta (Fairfax solicitors), and since I previously had a written 'AGREEMENT'from HMRC, and since the spelling of each and every communication from them is disgraceful,.....I will continue in this frivolous fashion until they stop, as Shaun Ryder would say: 'kettling my swede'!
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 08:29...
ReplyDelete"HMRC takes months to process post..."
...that's because staff are far too busy dealing with the management's "important" spreadsheets plus attending endless meetings, all of which are mission-critical.
Are these letters actually from DCAs? The wording looks like wording taken from HMRC-issued demand letters.When time to pay is agreed, businesses and individuals are advised that they may continue to receive reminders until the debt is cleared.
ReplyDelete