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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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A bit out of date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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Income exceeding £100,000?
https://www.google.com/search?q=wealthyotm%40hmrc&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB871GB8...
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.
Send the letter back to Mr J Harra, HM Revenue and Customs, 100 Parliament Street, Westminster, London SW1A 2BQ asking for more information.