How do you get a client out of self assessment?

How do you get a client out of self assessment?

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From time to time a personal tax return is prepared and it is apparent that further returns will not be required so we tell the client we will attempt to get them removed from self assessment.

In the past HMRC have been quite helpful.  Having allowed time for the “final” return to be processed we have rung up HMRC, gone through the checklist of criteria whereby a return is required and HMRC have closed the record down and written to both agent and client to confirm.

Now when you ring HMRC the say the selection for 2016 returns isn’t done until January and we have to wait until they client has or hasn’t been selected before we contact them to request removal if they had been selected.

Has anyone else come up against this or found a way round it?

Replies (5)

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By K81
25th Aug 2015 12:41

request it on the 2015 tax return

 This has worked for us several times recently.

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By Paul D Utherone
25th Aug 2015 12:57

It seemed to be something that changed last year

I had exactly the same issue. Rang to ask for the client to be taken out of SA to be told they could not until the client had been selected for SA for the following year.

Presumably the systems have been set so that they can issue a return then treat a call as a request under TMA s8B to which they accede but not just flag in advance not to issue.

Couldn't get past the call centre drone to do otherwise.

Annoyingly I also have a retired client who exceeds the HMRC 'investment inome' requirement for SA, but has been due a refund of <£5 for the last few years yet despite there being no reason to do a return as there is no net liability HMRC will not entertain cancellation of the requirement to make a return either by phone or followed up by letter.

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By nogammonsinanundoubledgame
25th Aug 2015 13:03

In my experience ...

... HMRC are only too keen to close down SA records given half an opportunity.  It seems to happen pretty much automatically if you file a tax return that ticks none of the criteria boxes.

Tips include

1) Make sure that you have no employment pages declaring a directorship

2) Make sure that you leave UNticked the two questions providing HMRC options to collect tax under PAYE.  This point is often overlooked because we get in the habit of auto-ticking the second of these boxes due to gross abuse of the option by HMRC, who invariably estimate that your client has income of about £120K when he has only ever shown £30K.

Then you pretty smartly get an autogenerated letter saying that the record is closed (all other factors so indicating,of course).

With kind regards

Clint Westwood.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
25th Aug 2015 13:27

taken off SA

Just submitted 2014/15 return. Client consistently has very small repayment. Only income is private pension (under PAYE) and bank interest. Shortly after submission, HMRC sent out letter saying no more TRs wil be issued.

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Time for change
By Time for change
25th Aug 2015 17:42

Similar experience to Red Leader

in a number of cases already this year. Submitted 2014/15 return and, seemingly, in the blink of an eye, received a letter saying client no longer needs to complete SA returns.

I've also had an instance, today, where I've spoken to the HMRC dedicated agent line and had a client removed whilst on the telephone.

My criticism's are that, generally, HMRC are seriously inconsistent in how they deal with most aspects of tax affairs and this, in turn, leads to frustration, amongst advisers etc, on a grand scale. These scenario's suggest poor, or inadequate training?

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