Chesterfield Online Forum

General Category => Rants => Topic started by: christa on January 03, 2012, 12:12:35 PM

Title: Inland Revenue
Post by: christa on January 03, 2012, 12:12:35 PM
I've done my self assessment on time every year since I came here (about 8 years ago now) and every year they sent me a penalty notice
and claim that I handed in my assessment too late. Which means that every year I've had to send them a letter pointing out which date I sent
the assessment and that the penalty shouldn't be there in the first place.

It really bugs me when we have to do their job for them. Since they made the self assessment available online and since we got the business
started, I've used that service in hope it would be better. But noooo. They still put me in debt every dang year because the return is "late".
Then they as us to save paper!?
Does anyone else have this issue?
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Fly on January 03, 2012, 04:51:06 PM
On a lighter note christa.
I actually got £50 back from them last month  :o  Overpaid tax from 2006/7

Takes them 4 years to pay me back, but they penalise you 'on the spot'. Albeit wrongly  :(
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Alsatian on January 03, 2012, 04:59:13 PM
On a lighter note christa.
I actually got £50 back from them last month  :o  Overpaid tax from 2006/7

Takes them 4 years to pay me back, but they penalise you 'on the spot'. Albeit wrongly  :(

They seem to be refunding quite a few people - I've had £30 paid back to me!
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: emmz on January 03, 2012, 05:10:10 PM
I got £28 from them so seems they have made quite a few mistakes....
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: christa on January 03, 2012, 06:44:38 PM
Yep, penalties are always on time while the money they owe people takes a lot longer for them
to get out. If we did the same to them we would all end up in jail :p
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Fly on January 03, 2012, 06:54:27 PM
When I moved in with Our_Lass, I phoned HMRC to tell them about our change in circumstances.
They wouldn't let me tell them of her changes.
Our_Lass had to phone herself and tell them of her change in circumstances.
We both heard nothing for 3 months, then both got seperate letters at the same address,
telling us, we owed them money. They'd still been paying us  ::)

The system beggars belief at times  >:(
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: k4blades on January 03, 2012, 07:38:09 PM
I have to say that I've never had a problem with my self assessment.......other than the bill of course.


When I moved in with Our_Lass, I phoned HMRC to tell them about our change in circumstances.
They wouldn't let me tell them of her changes.
Our_Lass had to phone herself and tell them of her change in circumstances.
We both heard nothing for 3 months, then both got seperate letters at the same address,
telling us, we owed them money. They'd still been paying us  ::)

The system beggars belief at times  >:(

You ought to try the tax credits system, what a farce. We get help towards nursery costs through tax credits, but try and give them some information, which you are meant to when circumstances change, and they don't want to know, but then send you a bill when you have been over paid. On more than 1 occassion I have made a formal complaint, and then had a letter of apology, but I wonder just how many mistakes they make, these so called poor old civil servants.
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Pete on January 03, 2012, 07:48:53 PM
By way of coincidence this was front page news today:


Tax officials under fire for crackdown on small firms over poor bookkeeping

Business leaders and Tory MPs attack HMRC for plan to issue fines of up to £3,000, while taking 'soft approach' to big firms

Priti Patel, Tory MP for Witham, said: "This is the persecution of small businesses at a time when they are already facing a very, very hard time.

"The attitude of HMRC to small businesses is frankly disgraceful when they are blatantly doing deals with large firms which have allowed them to escape millions of pounds in tax liabilities.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/03/tax-officials-crackdown-small-firms (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/03/tax-officials-crackdown-small-firms)

If you wish to complain - click on the link below

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/complain-to-hmrc#petition (https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/complain-to-hmrc#petition)
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Fly on January 03, 2012, 07:50:33 PM
Nice one Pete   ;)
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: christa on January 03, 2012, 08:19:14 PM
OOooooo...I can complain to them  ;D (That was irony btw)
It's always us small business owners that ends up under the fire no matter what we do.
Imagine how much money they lose every year on these huge companies with their shady lawyers.
Same everywhere.
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Pete on January 03, 2012, 10:45:04 PM
Yes
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Fly on January 05, 2012, 08:25:54 PM
I heard on the radio that self assesments must be in by Jan 31st.
So how can you get penalised if you've already sent it in. Ridiculous  >:(
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: mycul on January 23, 2012, 01:59:25 PM
I seem to be the only one who has gained.
Got over £500 from them for mum.
Get an accountant.
Cost me £150.
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: christa on January 23, 2012, 02:29:47 PM
I heard on the radio that self assesments must be in by Jan 31st.
So how can you get penalised if you've already sent it in. Ridiculous  >:(

Because they have a big dark deep basement full of files that they rely on instead of their
shiny computer system. They miss the bit where technology comes into the picture and even if
they offer you to do the assessments online, they seem to ignore them.

I've found a copy of the assessment AND the reference number however. They were going to "look
for the assessment" when Robin gave them a ring...but if we found the reference number before we
heard back from them, we were asked to send it in.
So what they're using the so called "Unique" reference number that we all have at the top of the
self-assessment beats me.
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Alsatian on January 23, 2012, 06:17:35 PM
Got over £500 from them for mum.

Didn't realise they bought and sold items - was it a fair price for her?!  ;D
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Fly on January 23, 2012, 06:24:31 PM
 ::) Always one, usually you  ;D
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Alsatian on January 23, 2012, 06:38:32 PM
::) Always one, usually you  ;D

Flattery will get you everywhere Barry!  ;)
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Stuart on January 23, 2012, 06:49:57 PM
Rather than send back a self-assessment form, send back a menu, asking them to pick a starter, main course and dessert. It usually works for "big" business.
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: Pete on January 23, 2012, 07:01:46 PM
I wouldn't worry too much about big business - don't they let them off?  >:(
Title: Re: Inland Revenue
Post by: mycul on January 24, 2012, 10:21:13 PM
Feck off was being serious.