Stop Self Assessment?

ThreeNineThreeFive

Hi,

I used to be self employed a long time ago - I can't even remember when I stopped, but I completed some sort of cesation form with a tax return at the time. Since then I've been employed and being taxed by PAYE. I don't have any investments - I don't even have any savings (well, just over 2 quid in one account just to keep it open).

I left my previous job at the end of 2006 and left my P11D (the one that lists benefits?) there and it never got forwarded to me. I've tried to get them to post me copies since but each time it seems to be forgotten about as nothing has ever turned up. As a result I've not really been able to complete my self assessment forms and I keep getting fined 100 quid. I think I'm up to 300 now plus interest, and I've already previously paid an additional 100 to HMRC before building up that 300.

I could do with some advice if possible on what I can do to get the fine taken away and to sort this mess out, and if possible how to make it so I don't have to try and do self assessment every year as I can't see there's a need for it and I'm useless at remembering/getting around to doing it.

thanks

dori2o

As it stands the only way of getting rid of the penalties is to complete the forms and hope you have no tax liability from the calculations. If that is the case the penalties are cancelled upon the tax return being processed. If you do have a liability of less than £100 then the penalty will be reduced to match the liability, and if it is more than £100 the penalty stays as it is. As it stands you no longer have right of appeal against the penalties as it needs to be submitted within 30 days of receiving the penalty notice.

The reason you keep getting returns is due to the fact you have outstanding ones, it seems that from your post you have 2 outstanding late returns, and probably one that becomes due for 31/01/09.

You need to get these completed asap so either download the forms from the internet here > http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/forms/content.htm , or contact HMRC and ask them to send out duplicates.

If you no longer have the information required to complete the returns, firstly contact the companies you have worked for and request copies of P46/P60/P11d details as required. If they are not forthcomming with the information, contact HMRC and adbise them you have tried to get them direct from the companies but have had no luck and ask them to send you the information they hold.

You also need to confirm whether on the last tax return required for your self employment has been filed, and if it has whether on that return you have shown your self employed date of cessation i.e. the date you ceased to be self employed. If the date is not present on the tax return last filed, and no further self employment occurred you need to show the date on the first outstanding return instead.

Assuming you now do not meet the criteria for SA, once these outstanding rturns, and the one for current year have been completed, there is a good chance you will not have to complete another, but get them back asap as the SA system selects the next years returnbs in February, so all returns need to ahve been processed before that date for the system to recognise no SA return is required.

ThreeNineThreeFive

dori2o wrote: »

As it stands the only way of getting rid of the penalties is to complete the forms and hope you have no tax liability from the calculations. If that is the case the penalties are cancelled upon the tax return being processed. If you do have a liability of less than £100 then the penalty will be reduced to match the liability, and if it is more than £100 the penalty stays as it is. As it stands you no longer have right of appeal against the penalties as it needs to be submitted within 30 days of receiving the penalty notice.

The reason you keep getting returns is due to the fact you have outstanding ones, it seems that from your post you have 2 outstanding late returns, and probably one that becomes due for 31/01/09.

You need to get these completed asap so either download the forms from the internet here > http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/forms/content.htm , or contact HMRC and ask them to send out duplicates.

If you no longer have the information required to complete the returns, firstly contact the companies you have worked for and request copies of P46/P60/P11d details as required. If they are not forthcomming with the information, contact HMRC and adbise them you have tried to get them direct from the companies but have had no luck and ask them to send you the information they hold.

You also need to confirm whether on the last tax return required for your self employment has been filed, and if it has whether on that return you have shown your self employed date of cessation i.e. the date you ceased to be self employed. If the date is not present on the tax return last filed, and no further self employment occurred you need to show the date on the first outstanding return instead.

Assuming you now do not meet the criteria for SA, once these outstanding rturns, and the one for current year have been completed, there is a good chance you will not have to complete another, but get them back asap as the SA system selects the next years returnbs in February, so all returns need to ahve been processed before that date for the system to recognise no SA return is required.

Cheers for that. I've emailed my old work again to try and get copies and I'll give it a day or two before emailing again. I've registered online last night for the online self assessment thing so hopefully the login code will arrive soon and I'll be able to get this mess sorted out!
Shouldn't have left it this long really