Will they put me in jail or fine me for getting a form wrong?

jago25_98

I'm looking at putting in a request for a rebate for tax I've paid whilst working abroad.

But it's very complicated and I'm worried I might get it wrong.

What do I need to worry about if I get it wrong?

What happens if I get a rebate but then I'm investigated and I then am unable to show documenttation to prove my case? Obviously I have to pay the money back but is there a fine or a prison sentance?

Up until now I haven't bothered trying claiming back due to the hassle. Also because of this I don't try so hard to earn more because it just means more tax.

If I know I can get it back with low risk in event of error then that is some motivation to earn more. Hence the question.

fengirl_2

Oh dear, what a worrier!

HMRC would only investigate you if you self assessed. If you are just putting in an informal claim, you would need to provide documentation, I would have thought, and they would do the checks before they repaid you.
If you can tell us what your claim is about, we can maybe reassure you.

Cook_County

jago25_98 wrote: »

I'm looking at putting in a request for a rebate for tax I've paid whilst working abroad.

But it's very complicated and I'm worried I might get it wrong.

What do I need to worry about if I get it wrong?

What happens if I get a rebate but then I'm investigated and I then am unable to show documenttation to prove my case? Obviously I have to pay the money back but is there a fine or a prison sentance?

Up until now I haven't bothered trying claiming back due to the hassle. Also because of this I don't try so hard to earn more because it just means more tax.

If I know I can get it back with low risk in event of error then that is some motivation to earn more. Hence the question.

This person said in 2008 that he was planning on evading tax here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=841435&highlight=
It appears that he is now planning on submitting a deliberately fraudulent tax return. I suggest consulting a solicitor first thing on Monday morning before HMRC come knocking (they now have powers to visit business premises that they did not have back in 2008).

Money_Grabber13579

If the form is filled in fraudulently, then the penalties are quite stiff. If it is just negligently, then it is only likely to be a fine, mounting up on a daily or perhaps 6 monthly basis.

By the way, from that post you listed Cook_County, it seems that it was more about tax avoidance, not evasion. There is a big difference between the two.

Spider-Man

Well first of all, lets establish if your earnings abroad are taxable in the UK before we see if you are due a rebate.

Did your period of overseas employment extend beyond a full UK tax year?

During your absence, how many days did you spend in the UK and how many of these days were workdays?

What in particular is 'very complicated'..?

jago25_98

I don't think I qualify because I've never managed to make the half day rule with proof. That is, I haven't managed to have my trips away last for more away than I am at home for a year. But I do have the amount of days.

It is close but the days traveling and moving into the 100 mile(ish) radius means I don't have proof, without requesting ships logs and going through it all.

Basically I was contemplating giving it a go anyway as I have some proof possibly for claiming(Seamans Log Book), but not enough if I got fully investigated (Ships Logs). So I wanted to know what the worst that could happen.

Previously I haven't tried to get my tax back by doing enough work outside the UK because I was worried how costly a mistake could be, so I kept my days low and erred on the side of caution. I always imagined punishments would be severe.

Now the work rate is increasing but I don't see the point of working this much away from friends and family if I either have to pay full tax, or risk something worse in getting the tax back.