Yesterday I had the complaints department of HMRC Bootle on the phone. Apparently the previous accountant had done the payroll of a client under the wrong reference number. One ex employee, of this client, had been in touch with them because his earnings and tax etc were showing as a lot more than they should have been. I am a one man practice and have accounts and tax returns to complete before the end of this month. This HMRC employee demanded that I correct this error, using EYU, straight away meaning yesterday or today. When I said I wouldn't be able to do the correction until next month he threatened to contact their compliance department because I am not the agent for this client. I do this payroll as a favour for another accountant who is a friend. The HMRC employee seems to think, from this conversation, that I or my friend are avoiding taxation because I am not on his payroll even though I explained to him that I am a self employed freelance accountant. Would any one on this site obey the HMRC, and do it straight away, or would they take my stance?
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Overzealous HMRC
So, compliance is going to talk you, who have not been appointed as the agent, about a client you do not formally represent! I don't think so.
Do it in your own time, when you are ready so that everything is put right and you are under no pressure to rush the job.
Archetype
Years ago, soon after I started by myselff, and when HMRC was still local districts, I spoke to a local Inspector who commented he didn't recognise my practice name. Although we were talking about a client, he couldn't resist the dig, "Can I just check, you have registered as self employed with us". As if I'ld be daft enough not to, and admit it!
But, yes, you've got a jobsworth - ignore them and do it in your own reasonable time.
It does irk me that HMRCS expect everything in super fast time, but don't work to the same standards,