Fucking HMRC!![angry][angry]

[Lanark2]

Bloody HMRC have sent me a fine, that wipes out my tiny rebate!!!

Their online system had a repeat check after I pressed submit via digidentity, which I did, but they are now saying I didn't!!! Fucking BASTARDS. I need that £100!!

[MiniCooperLover]

Did you get sent an online receipt after you submitted it?

[Lanark2]

Yes, but I printed it off at the bit where it says print or save, which is just before the bit that says 'to complete, reverify using digiidentity' so it says something like 'not verified' on the PDF. Dirty bastards.

[Muskateersmummy]

Ring them, and discuss. They sent me a bill for £3,500. I called them for an explaination. Turns out there had been an error and they actually owed me £100!

Always speak to someone rather than messing about online

[StickyToffeePuddingAndCustard]

It's appealable.

I had something similar one year when I found out my return hadn't submitted. I sent a screenprint of the completed return and one of the saved pdf details that showed the date and time.

They accepted that an error had occurred and lifted the fine. If it is your first time with a fine it is definitely worth appealing.

[rosebiggs]

Will there be a record of your electronic payment going through?

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Yes see into it first before you go throwing money at them, but if you do owe it. I'm sure you can pay in installments

[Waitingfordolly]

I forgot to press submit once but I paid the tax anyway and successfully appealed the fine on the basis I'd paid.

[scarlets]

Definitely appeal. Make sure that the return is definitely in, first, because appeals are rejected if the return isn't shown as received.

[Fontella]

Ring them and talk to someone!

I had a recent 'incident' with HMRC I made a genuine mistake on my (self employed) tax return and it resulted in an investigation. I realised immediately I was completely at fault and was terrified and held off to the last moment to contact them - literally the last day. All my fears were unjustified as when I did finally call them, they couldn't have been nicer or more understanding.

Then, having accepted my error it turned out I owed them some money. This came completely out of the blue at the wrong time of the year - I hadn't budgeted for it, and I couldn't afford to pay it at the time. So I rang them and once again, they couldn't have been nicer or more understanding. I actually burst into tears on the phone because of how the woman was with me, when I had been so terrified and putting off contacting them and they have given me more time to pay.

They aren't out to stitch you up - they are just following procedure. And there are real living, breathing human beings at the end of the phone, and my recent interactions with them, show they are human beings with a heart.

Call them!

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Tax returns are a bit of a dark art though aren't they? No one knows what the fuck they are doing; most of the returns are made in good faith but probably contain errors. And don't even get me started on business returns.

I reckon the tax people realise this and tend to be reasonable just to keep you engaged with the process.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

When I made a huge cock up, the guy I spoke to was amazingly kind and helpful. Call them.

[Thatrabbittrickedme]

Yy OP definitely ring them - I've had to a few times recently and they have been exceedingly helpful, knowledgeable, understanding and patient with me everytime. Agree with pp that the people on the phone line are human beings who genuinely seem to want to help and have your best interests at heart (within the constraints of the process). Good luck

[BlueMoonRising]

I remember something from my heady days of accounting that the fine for non-submission can't be more than the tax owed - but that was a long time ago, before internet submissions - worth checking out though.

[unlucky83]

Going to agree with Fontella - phone them and speak to them....they are human and understand and are usually helpful.
Years ago when DP started his business we had to do the first VAT 100 - but we were struggling with and way behind with entering the data into our accounts package, which in theory should have worked everything out for us. Sold to us and recommended by our accountant, the package cost a fortune once it had been 'customised' and I'd had training. But it actually made things way more complicated and a lot more work than they needed to be. And I'd phoned the accountant several times for help and they had never called back.
Absolutely panic stricken the day before the deadline I called the VAT people to tell them I couldn't do it and they couldn't have been more lovely, I also sobbed down the phone with relief because they were so nice . They let us to an estimate etc - all good. It gave us the confidence to get rid of the accountant and Quickbooks and just used a spreadsheet instead. And we found a nice semi retired accountant to keep us on track - who charged us a third of what our original one was going to and did more work for us too!

[AKissACuddleAndACheekyFinger]

HMRC are a joke. We used to receive child benefit and had it paid into an account separate from our own account because we wanted to save it for uni or whatever. It is an RBS account but generally we bank with HSBC. When we were no longer entitled to CB, we let them know and thought no more of it. We don't look at that account because as far as we were concerned there were no incomings or outgoings. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I checked the account as we were applying for a mortgage and they asked for details of all accounts in our names and the CB has continued to be paid. I called HMRC straight away and explained and they stopped the payments but would not let me pay it back there and then, they said they would send the form to us to fill out and I would have my tax code adjusted to recoup the money. No form. I called them this week and asked for the form and they said there is no money outstanding. There is, it's in my bloody bank account!! That lot couldn't organise an orgy in a brothel!!

Sorry, not helpful but cathartic.

[Fontella]

Sorry, not helpful but cathartic

Each to their own and we can only recount our own experience.

My case is recent, I was in the wrong and realised it straight away upon receipt of their letter and a little bit of investigation. I then proceeded to worry myself silly for weeks before plucking up the courage to call them. Best thing I could have done. Both the HMRC staff members i spoke to - male first time, and female second time were absolutely fantastic. The second one was so lovely I actually burst into tears. They couldn't have been kinder or more helpful.

Maybe I was just lucky, I dunno. I can't really comment on HMRC but I can comment on the staff they employ and no complaints from me on that score.

[NHSisfubar]

I speak to them quite a lot for my job and in general they are nice and helpful. I did get one guy a few weeks ago who was just plain nasty and tried to be as patronising as possible but most are fine so just phone them up

[gatorgolf]

Blue moon the rule about penalty not exceeding tax due was changed a few years ago.

However definitely appeal, you need to do this in writing instructions should have come with the penalty notice.

Apparently hmrc department who deals with penalty appeals are so swamped they have been instructed to remove penalties where the taxpayer has an excuse, at least that's what's been reported in the accountancy press.

I wouldn't bother ringing you'll be hanging on for ages for someone to answer and I doubt they would cancel over the phone antway

[CauliflowerBalti]

I hate hate HATE the system - but the people at HMRC are mostly very lovely.

Go to the loo then settle yourself down with a cup of tea and a good book - you'll be on hold forever - and give them a call.

[IJustLostTheGame]

HMRC used to be lovely on the phone, really helpful.
Last year I paid my tax, I was sent a letter 2nd class after the cut off date saying I had been under charged and then I was fined.
Nobody on the phone could give a ff.

[DeoGratias]

I thought no one could get through on the phone to them these days unless you wait an hour and a massiev % of calls are never answered....

[Eliza22]

But don't you feel heart warmed when you see photos of the Cambridges having fun on their skiing jaunt? Sorry, off topic (and my mind's still on another thread about the Cambridges and the press) but really, can't you just take joy from that and hand over your £100 with joy?

[Redcherries]

I deal with HMRC for our business, I'm not an accountant and over the last few years have made mistakes here and there, missed the VAT deadline last run because I can't count to 3, phoned with daft questions. I've found they are always helpful, spend time running through things and try to find the best outcome for us, I actually now tend to give them a call rather than my (also lovely) accountant. I hope you get it resolved.

Regards getting through, I've found late morning, lunch time and the evening to be the longest wait times, sometimes up to half an hour, I stick it on speaker and leave it next to me while I get on with other stuff, I've never not had an answer though.

[OurBlanche]

I am just setting up and keep making errors, having panicky moments. I have always got through and have always spoken to someone friendly and able to help.

It was much the same 1 years ago when they billed me for £12K for being self employed and not having paid tax for 8 years. After 2 days of printing, signing, phoning back and checking, I sent off a large package of paperwork... and got a £300 rebate

So don't panic, call them and get it sorted. They really are not money grabbing ogres.

[Miminouminou]

I am the world's most disorganised human being and I've had to phone HMRC quite a few times while in a panic.
I can only describe the call handlers as fluffy. Don't be scared of them.