I have today spoken to Cumbernauld regarding the incentive payment due to a long established client, who in the last two years filed 'nil returns', although they did have employees and were expected to administer the payment of Tax Credits in at least one of those years!
I was informed that they were 'under investigation' with regards the incentive payment ' which is a bit rich because no official notice of any 'investigation' has been received!
The Revenue also state that they have no note of my correspondence requesting the incentive payment for this client, despite two previous requests. Nor do the have any note of half a dozen other requests made on behalf of smaller clients on the same dates (In November and December 2005)
The ten-week period (which I was advised by telephone in November, was a fourteen-day period) has long since elapsed, and none of these clients have received their incentive payments.
I have advised the Revenue that in the case of the client with the 'nil return', we shall go to the Commissioners to demonstrate the validity of the client's right to the incentive payment.
If we were dealing with unscrupulous businesses, this behaviour would be understandable ' but this is the Government, for pity's sake!
Anon