Fast tracking a paper return?

Has anyone managed to fast track HMRC's process of scanning and processing a paper return?

Didn't find your answer?

I have a client whom I have completed a 16/17 tax return for. Because of adjustments to his savings allowance, his return cannot be filed electroncially, so I have had to instead post a paper return to them. The issue is, this client is applying for a mortgage and his lender wants copies of his SA302's for the past 3 yearrs (including 16/17) but HMRC have advised it will take 3 months to process his paper return.

Because we use IRIS, I cannot download a copy of his SA302's directly, I have to request them from HMRC, and the lender won't accept copies of our computations. I have tried to explain to HMRC that this is down to thier system not accepting the electronic return but I just kept being told there was nothing we or they could do, it will take 3 months. This seems very unfair to me and it may be that my client has to find another lender who will accept our computations, but this may lead to them paying higher rates, so again, not an ideal situation for them.

My questions are, has anyone else had any experience in a similar situation? And if so, did you manage to get HMRC to speed up the process or was it just a case of tough luck for the client? If no one has, at least I've had a little vent.

Replies (19)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

RLI
By lionofludesch
27th Jul 2017 12:47

I haven't.

And this year will be tough as they'll be getting mote paper returns than usual. Forff some reason .....

When we did paper returns as the norm, I did use to write on the front page in red "Repayment return". I've no idea whether that helped.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By KD1182
27th Jul 2017 13:34

Request to speak to a manager on the ADL, explain the situation and you may get lucky...

Thanks (1)
avatar
By halblackburn
27th Jul 2017 13:36

Recently HMRC told me there is an agreement in place between the Council of Mortgage Lenders and HMRC to the effect that the members of the CML will accept tax software calculations and not require SA302s from HMRC. If you phone up HMRC to request an SA302 you are asked who the prospective lender is. If it is a member of the CML then HMRC refuse to issue a SA302.

Thanks (1)
Replying to halblackburn:
avatar
By Joe Alderson
27th Jul 2017 13:45

halblackburn wrote:

Recently HMRC told me there is an agreement in place between the Council of Mortgage Lenders and HMRC to the effect that the members of the CML will accept tax software calculations and not require SA302s from HMRC. If you phone up HMRC to request an SA302 you are asked who the prospective lender is. If it is a member of the CML then HMRC refuse to issue a SA302.

That's true, unfortunately the lender isn't a member of the CML. There's one or two major lenders surprisingly absent from that list although most are on it.
Thanks (1)
Replying to halblackburn:
avatar
By Wanderer
27th Jul 2017 14:25

You also need to supply the lenders with a Tax Year Overview printed from the online account, agreeing to the software SA302. Problem is until HMRC process the tax return the figures won't agree.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Vaughan Blake1
27th Jul 2017 16:24

With 62 (and rising) variants of the paper requirement, the 3 months delay will only increase. It will be interesting to see if the October 'fix' cures the most common problem ones.

Surely these lenders don't live in a sealed bubble, and realise that there is a problem. The solution to which is a total income statement signed by the accountant as true and fair!

Thanks (0)
By Marion Hayes
28th Jul 2017 16:18

I think that it is also probable that until the fixes have been incorporated HMRC's calculation may not even agree with the liability.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Jack Spratt
29th Jul 2017 16:52

"Surely these lenders don't live in a sealed bubble"
Oh yes they do and they have done for years and years and years.
They have a box to tick and if they don't tick it tough sh*t is how it usually works.
And it doesn't matter if the lender is a member of the CML and there is agreement between the CML and HMRC unless the person ticking the boxes has been told that there is.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Jack Spratt:
Northumberland flag
By MJShone
11th Aug 2017 09:43

That's certainly my experience!

Thanks (0)
Sparkly Orange
By Sparkly
04th Aug 2017 10:25

Your third party software won't allow you to submit electronically but have you tried completing the Tax Return online instead using HMRCs own form?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By carnmores
06th Aug 2017 10:00

Surely you can submit online with either third party or HMRC software pending the October update. how much difference does this make in effect , they are interested primarily in the income not the tax surely. the tax year overview for 2016 17 is technically irrelevant as the tax isnt due yet. resubmit later HMRC shouldn't have it both ways

Thanks (0)
Replying to carnmores:
avatar
By Jack Spratt
07th Aug 2017 15:19

Not so.
Tax for 16/17 up to the amount of the tax payable in January for 15/16 is already due.

Thanks (1)
Replying to Jack Spratt:
avatar
By carnmores
07th Aug 2017 16:06

Quite right jack , i presumed that if he was applying for a mortgage that all his payments on account would be up to date otherwise he wouldn't get the mortgage

Thanks (0)
By Paul D Utherone
08th Aug 2017 12:54

Asked the question at the HMRC webinar today.

Answer: Contact HMRC (?Agent phone line?)and ask for the return to be processed as a matter of urgency.

I presume that returns must be scanned when received on paper, so the hope would be that the scan could be traced and processing brought to the front of the queue. Quite whether that will also require staff on the helpline to not just say "we deal with all post in date order" is another matter.

I did ask a follow up re how, and 'have staff on the Agent Line been told to fasttrack' but that did not get answered in the time

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Joe Alderson
09th Aug 2017 09:43

Just to update on this, I've been back in touch with HMRC a couple of times. They have repeatedly refused to budge on the processing time. I have finally managed to get hold of a manager who will "email the team that processes the returns but they won't pick up the email for a week and then it's up to them if they push it up the queue."

In short, asking for a return to be dealt with as a priority hasn't really got me anywhere. It's frustrating how unreasonable HMRC can be, but something you learn to expect quickly.

I have filed an electronic return as well, which will yield the wrong tax calculation, but at least this way the SA302 can be ordered and then once the paper return is processed the hope is that this will supersede the electronic one. If not I will just have to re-file further down the line.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Joe Alderson:
By Paul D Utherone
09th Aug 2017 10:29

Do you have an Agent Account Manager? Perhaps this would be a case for them to try to expedite matters...and tell them to listen to the answer given at the recent HMRC Webinar on 2016-17 TR Exclusion cases.

Thanks (1)
Replying to Joe Alderson:
By Paul D Utherone
10th Aug 2017 12:46

Joe Alderson wrote:

I have filed an electronic return as well, which will yield the wrong tax calculation, but at least this way the SA302 can be ordered and then once the paper return is processed the hope is that this will supersede the electronic one. If not I will just have to re-file further down the line.


As a follow up at the webinar HMRC said they would identify any returns affected and make the change after October. They should therefore pick up your electronic submission with incorrect figures and amend automatically in due course without you needing to do anything
Thanks (1)
Replying to Paul D Utherone:
avatar
By Joe Alderson
10th Aug 2017 13:00

Paul D Utherone wrote:
As a follow up at the webinar HMRC said they would identify any returns affected and make the change after October. They should therefore pick up your electronic submission with incorrect figures and amend automatically in due course without you needing to do anything
That's useful to know and would make things simpler. Hopefully it's all sorted now, the SA302 is on it's way to the client by snail mail.
Thanks (0)
avatar
By justsotax
10th Aug 2017 13:26

Well given the Revenue's track record I would struggle to believe anything they say. I will be making sure that any paper returns that they do not correctly process will have a complaint made and an associated fee note directed to them for the additional work.

That is not to say they will not process the paper returns correctly but history says they will screw something up. Currently we all bend over backwards to help them....sometimes you have to stop bending!

Thanks (0)