Not really a question more of a monday morning moan.
I have just spoken to the lovely HMRC enquiring about a refund due to one of my clients, Their self assessment return was submitted on the 26th June (By Post ,
My client does not trust the security of online filing.)
I was informed that the return has been received 27th June but not yet processed, my next question was when. Her reply "We are currently working on returns received on the 18th April " A massive 12 days after they were sent out!!
It was suggested to me that online filing would have been quicker, couldn't be much slower! and the return in question will hopefully be processed some time in the next 8 - 10 weeks , but they do have a lot of post to deal with!!!.
It appears the taxpayer is being penalised for filing by post, any other experience of this please.
Ian
IL
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Replies (7)
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Only positive for online filing with bank details
Those submitted electronically including the client bank details so far this year have all seen the refund in the clients bank account in under a week.
Perhaps I have just been lucky!!
More tales of woe...
A couple of comments...
Firstly, with regard to slow refunds following an online filing, I was advised by a contact within HMRC that a few tax offices are experiencing difficulties with their system, in that, for some unknown reason, refunds are not automatically being issued, but instead, someone has to print of a list of taxpayers owed a refund from their office and then authorise it manually!?! Again, manual intervention causes delays.
Secondly, with regard to postal backlogs, one of my local offices which will remain unamed apparently has an eight week backlong of post. Whilst this does not seem too shocking, I was advised "off the record" that said office isn't even opening its post on receipt, but stock piling it until such time it can be actioned and then opening it!!
Best regards
Not all the same
Not all tax offices are experiencing the same delays:-
I submitted one return on 30 July (hand-written tax return, posted to HMRC, tax refund arising because of CIS tax)
The return was processed on 14 August and a cheque was issued on 22 August!!
this may sound silly but
knowing what computers & scanners are like it may help if you rember to tick the refund box etc on your tax return i not saying it will, it may speed up identifying refunds etc
apart from that all you can do is wait a reasanble period of time and follow it up
E-filing
As far as I am aware there are no security issues with filing on line, so why not?
We always e-file particularly when there is a refund due. Cheque normally arrives within 14 days. Did you mention this to your client? If so, then its tough luck on his part. If not, well........
HMRC are obviously encouraging on line filing because it saves costs. This delay in manual processing is just another way of encouraging you!
Excuses
Its just an excuse - I file nearly all my returns on line, and I have several refunds outstanding for returns filed a couple of weeks ago. I wait 10 days and if the refund does not arrive (a few do, but not all) I ring the office and ask when they are to be refunded - I always get the same answer -
1. they don't know why it has not happened yet
2. they confirm that a refund is due
3. they confirm they have the clients bank details for the refund
4. they confirm the refund will be actioned.
Several weeks pass and still no refunds...............
The only thing these clients have in common - is that they have 2 or more sources of PAYE income - I suspect none of the tax offices concerned will take on the responsibility of making the refund.
Quick rebates
I think I have been lucky too because every rebate arrives in a week or two when online filing. I was told by HMRC that they are automatic and there is no manual checking so am a bit surprised by Frauke's comments. Maybe there is a de-minimus limit and they have to check any over a certain amount.
Is it the bigger claims that have caused problems Frauke ?
It makes it so much easier for the honest online filers, but can't help feeling that it would be very easy nowadays for a criminal to obtain a lot of rebates together with the lax, and potentially larger, tax credits pay outs.