HMRC chasing debts...

HMRC chasing debts...

Didn't find your answer?

Just been chased by HMRC CT debt and after going thru security (always weird when they ring us) they started to ask why our client had not paid off 2 years worth of CT balances.

I login to our online account to be greeted with the following:-

AP 30/04/2015  £3,647.49

AP 31/12/2014  £3,455.03

AP 31/12/2013  (£6,931.09)

After listening to the woman complaining about her IT systems I can 'sort of' see why these issues arise, but I can not now see why they can not do jumbled up thinking and check the prior year AP's before ringing!

She said that if I hold on the phone she would reallocate there and then and let me know what was still o/s but then, after more complaining about the systems not allowing her to do that, I told her that she should take her time and I will logon again in the next day or so and ask our client to pay anything o/s (apart from the incorrect penalty charge for the extended period...)

This is not an isolated experience unfortunately!

Replies (7)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

Image is of a pin up style woman in a red dress with some of her skirt caught in the filing cabinet. She looks surprised.
By Monsoon
14th Apr 2016 12:28

I hear you.

Same with the PAYE dept. It really is stupid. Not sure there is anything we can do about it, though.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Chris Ash
14th Apr 2016 12:36

Client's fault?

Hi

Maybe your client used wrong year reference when paying.

I appreciate it should be apparent to HMRC but if client uses correct ref it doesn't happen.

Thanks (0)
Image is of a pin up style woman in a red dress with some of her skirt caught in the filing cabinet. She looks surprised.
By Monsoon
14th Apr 2016 14:29

I know why it happens. The point is, it would be easier, quicker, and cheaper for HMRC to check other APs before chasing a non existent debt.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Joe Soap
14th Apr 2016 16:38

HMRC bookkeeping system is rubbish


They certainly don't have a running balance for each taxpayer - like you would in ledger. Each year is a discrete matter and not linked to any other year.

Worse than that they don't seem to have a double entry system either. One client who purportedly overpaid what was due had the relevant tax year credit with what HMRC (wrongly) said was due . And where was the balance? No idea it certainly wasn't in any other year under that clients name.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
14th Apr 2016 17:14

Agree on PAYE ...

... and I get fed up when they ring on the 12th and I have to chant my mantra "Yes, I know there is PAYE and CIS showing as due, but if you waited until 19th I would have filed the EPS showing you actually owe my client quite a bit of CIS deducted from them by the contractor, as has happened every month this tax year, and in any case payment isn't due until 22nd!"

Sometimes I get variation and it is "yes, there is PAYE showing due because my client hasn't paid the full amount shown on teh FPS, but if you wait until the 19th you will see the EPS showing SMP that offsets the difference, as it has for the last 6 months!"

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By andrew1211
15th Apr 2016 09:12

trivial

I had HMRC ringing up for £100!

Thanks (0)
By JCresswellTax
15th Apr 2016 10:02

I either

Don't speak to them when they phone or listen to everything they say and then reply with "You will have to contact the client directly, we are his accountants and don't pay the company liabilities".

They often can't understand what we are saying.

What a useless waste of time calling the agent.

Thanks (0)