Have other accountants received a letter like this

Have other accountants received a letter from HMRC asking about benefits in kind but no details?

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I am the director of a firm of accountants.

I received a letter this morning from H M Revenue & Customs.  I knew that it was from them as it contains their logo on the letter and came in the usual brown envelope.

The letter is headed ‘About the benefits in kind/or pay and tax details on your clients 2019-20 Self Assessment Tax Return’

The letter says that they are asking me to support my clients in getting their Tax Return correct.

They then say they have received information that my client’s benefits in kind and pay from their employer does not agree with their records.

I am then asked to check my clients P60s and P11Ds and amend my client’s Tax Return.

The letter finally says that if I wish to speak to H M Revenue & Customs that I should call the number at the top of the letter or write to them using the address at the top of the letter.

There is no reference on the letter, no client’s name, no telephone number and no address!

Could you imagine the conversation:

Paul       Thank you HMRC for your letter today.  Please could I speak to somebody about it?

HMRC   Can I take you through security?

Paul       Yes

HMRC   What is your client’s reference?

Paul       I don’t know which client you are talking about

HMRC   Well then how are we going to help you?

Paul       That is a very good question.  The letter that I received today asked me to call you if there is a problem.

HMRC   What reference is on the letter?

Paul       There isn’t a reference

HMRC   What client name is on the letter?

Paul       There isn’t a name on the letter

Paul       The letter tells me to call the telephone number at the top of the letter

HMRC   Then what is the number at the top of the letter?

Paul       There isn’t one

Paul       It also tells me to write to you at the address at the top of the letter

HMRC   Then what is their address at the top of the letter?

Paul       There isn’t one

Paul       You tell me in the letter that if I disagree with my client’s submitted tax return to contact you.  What do you not agree with?

HMRC   Which client are you talking about?

Paul       I don’t know, it doesn’t mention the client in the letter

HMRC   What is the reference?

Paul       I’ve already told you, there isn’t one

HMRC   I’m not sure how I can help you

Paul       I thought as much when I received the letter.  Absolute rubbish!!

Replies (15)

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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 15:03

Welcome to the Paul web community
There is an imposter, but less said etc

https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/how-many-pauls-on-aweb
A bit out of date

At least 15 on my latest count

Not received any such letter. No idea why HMRC would send out
Just received 100 letters from companies house saying how expensive to sent out letters. Really?

Thanks (1)
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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 15:07

Paul web now accepts Paulina
Apologies to all Paulinas. Did not know.

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
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By frankfx
17th Nov 2020 15:58

Paul Crowley wrote:

Paul web now accepts Paulina
Apologies to all Paulinas. Did not know.

Paulina Gretzky partner of the new Golf Masters champion is itching to add value to our forum.

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Replying to frankfx:
A Putey FACA
By Arthur Putey
17th Nov 2020 16:27

you can get some cream for that

Thanks (1)
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By SXGuy
17th Nov 2020 15:28

I had a similar letter some months ago. It wasn't about bik but it did realate to paye.

I copied and sent the letter back with a covering letter asking them to explain who they were refering to.

They wrote back and gave details, which ended up being a very old ex client we no longer have contact with.

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Replying to SXGuy:
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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 16:08

Sounds about right for HMRC
We do not cancel clients from Agent website for at least three years.

It seems not all 'agents' register their clients with HMRC

Thanks (1)
A Putey FACA
By Arthur Putey
17th Nov 2020 16:26

I had a letter about a specific client with BIK which to my surprise included an email address to reply to, [email protected]. What salutation should one use, Dear Wealthy?

Turned out they had a second P11D from another employer they'd omitted to tell me about.

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Replying to Arthur Putey:
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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 16:40

Genuine Email?
I would have ignored as clearly paper spam

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
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By SXGuy
17th Nov 2020 17:50

I think it's genuine and a recently new thing. Got a letter this week regarding a clients omitted bank interest on his TR. And gave a factsheet explaining that we can now email due to covid but you have to give a disclaimer first about understanding the risk etc.

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Replying to SXGuy:
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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 18:35

But the name?

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
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By Tax Dragon
18th Nov 2020 07:23

Paul Crowley wrote:

But the name?

Paul.

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Replying to Arthur Putey:
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By Paul Crowley
17th Nov 2020 23:55
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Debbie Franklin
By Debbie Franklin
18th Nov 2020 09:45

Yes also got one and it went straight in the bin!

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By Cathro
18th Nov 2020 10:29

I too had one of these letters yesterday, actually read it twice while savouring a mug of almost warm tea trying to work out if I'd fast forwarded to April 1st - Would dearly love to have the above phone conversation with HMRC just for the irony but can't face the time on hold before the call connects.

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By tonyaustin
18th Nov 2020 12:08

Send the letter back to Mr J Harra, HM Revenue and Customs, 100 Parliament Street, Westminster, London SW1A 2BQ asking for more information.

Thanks (5)