Missing tax return

Missing tax return

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We submitted a tax return (2013/14) for an individual client on 24/04/15 and received the electronic acknowledgement from HMRC via our software (the excellent Taxfiler).

Client had received some late filing penalty notices which we appealed at the beginning of April 2015 as there are a number of reasonable excuses. No response has been received but the client received a reminder to pay by post on Wednesday. That very same day, seemingly by coincidence, the client receives a telephone call from HMRC chasing the penalty and suggesting that the outstanding return should be filed within 2 weeks to avoid increased penalties.

Three questions:

(1) is it now normal for HMRC to chase such small penalties by phone?

(2) how long is it now taking HMRC to process penalty appeals?

(3) how can HMRC overlook an acknowledged tax return?

Unfortunately, my authorisation has not yet been processed so I can moan at HMRC directly!

I would be grateful for the recent experiences of other practitioners as the initial reaction of the client was (a) I hadn't appealed the original penalty notice and (b) I hadn't filed her tax return. Both of which I had done. Clients simply don't appreciate the incompetence of HMRC and place the blame squarely with us accountants.

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By Manchester_man
22nd May 2015 17:52

I've had a recent case of a tax return filed on 31/1/15, filing receipt which says return submitted successfully and the standard HMRC response printed off and saved, only to ring chasing repayment and be told that no return was submitted!

Makes us look bad. All you get from agent helpline is 'no return was submitted, and speak to online filing support'.

Sent using Taxfiler software and no reason for it to have failed

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Replying to Selfemployed:
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By MSD1968
22nd May 2015 17:58

This was also a repayment return. Do you suspect that these are being shelved somehow? As you correctly point out, the agent "helpline" is useless and we are left looking bad.

Also, I used Taxfiler as you did. Is anyone aware of recent issues with Taxfiler?

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By mbee1
23rd May 2015 12:20

Check with Online Services helpdesk

I had a case where the Return was electronically filed using Digita and I had the electronic receipt.  HMRC said it hadn't been filed.  I checked with the Online Services helpdesk who confirmed it had been received by them and it had been "pushed through" the system although they couldn't see it.

In the end I had to submit an amendment which i argued against doing as there was nothing to amend but the system wouldn't let me resubmit.

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By jvenegas16
23rd May 2015 23:08

That may be

MSD 1968 said that his authorization has not yet been processed. That may be the reason why HMRC has not dealt with the appeal. However, they could have replied by saying 'please send us your 64-8 form so that we can deal with your appeal which has been received?

It happened to me when the agent authorization and the appeal were crossed. But the tax inspector replied to me and dealt with the appeal once he had confirmation of the 64-8 form.

I have noticed that if a correspondence is not addressed to a specific individual, anything else is a lottery. You can never anticipate whether or not it is going to be dealt with and/or when.

But people tend to believe HMRC more than us, even with evidence of the work we have done. It is sad for us and frustrating, unfortunately.

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