HM Revenue Customs £200 fine!! Help!

jpixels

it seems to be one bloody thing after another

Basically they seem to think I am a sole trader, and have fined me £200 for not filing a self assessment tax form.

I have been on JSA for 2 years!! Not involved in any sort of business..

I got a business gateway loan around 4 years ago, and remember having to open a business bank account, but I have closed it.

WHat do I do? Their bullcrap website seems to have no contact details

isy1011

I would write to them and explain but Im no tax expert. Their address may be on the top of a letter you have received. It was when I got a tax bill.

Trollfever

I got a business gateway loan around 4 years ago, and remember having to open a business bank account, but I have closed it.

Did you file accounts for the business?

sammy115

If you had a business gateway loan and a business bank account, you must have been registered as self employed. If you have been on job seekers allowance then you will not have any tax to pay and once you have filled a self assessment form in and submitted it to the revenue then they will reduce the fine of £200 to nil, but you will have to do a tax return. They will already have written to you and asked you to fill a form in.

jpixels

well I just assumed they were smart enough to know that, since I have been on JSA, I am no longer self employed..crazy logic i know...they sent the tax forms 6 months ago..I had been on JSA over a year at that time..i dont get it

BoGoF

Believe it or not self-employed people can claim benefits as well. They are not mind readers. Were you ever self-employed?

amiehall

I'm not sure they will waive the fine. They send you the tax return because they're unsure of your tax situation. If you don't fill it in, you get the fine. Although clearly there won't be any additional tax to pay. I'd advise you to contact them as soon as possible. Also if they ask you to fill in a return in the future, it's not optional. Everyone who's sent one is obliged to return it on time.

jpixels

BoGoF wrote: »

Believe it or not self-employed people can claim benefits as well. They are not mind readers. Were you ever self-employed?

no..I opened a business bank account once to get a business gateway loan..dont mean I'm running my own business

It seems they are a bunch of assuming !!!!s to me..wont be paying !!!!

Hannah_10

You need to take the right attitude and at least approach them, ignoring HMRC was what got you into this much trouble, continuing to ignore them will get you into more trouble. Write to them and set out your case, if they need anything else they will write back. HMRC are pains in the arsse yes, but they are pains in the arsse with the power to put you in prison. Hardly seems worth it when a letter explaining yourself is all we're talking about.

sammy115

jpixels wrote: »

well I just assumed they were smart enough to know that, since I have been on JSA, I am no longer self employed..crazy logic i know...they sent the tax forms 6 months ago..I had been on JSA over a year at that time..i dont get it

Its the same crazy logic that applies when people don't understand that the revenue cannot tie all your records up in one place. They don't know when you move and they don't know who employs you (or not as the case maybe) until you give them the details...that is why they ask you to do a tax return.

Don't be arsey with them. They are asking you for information. It won't cost you anything but five or ten minutes of your time and it will save you a whole heap of bother.

goingforward_3

jpixels wrote: »

no..I opened a business bank account once to get a business gateway loan..dont mean I'm running my own business

It seems they are a bunch of assuming !!!!s to me..wont be paying !!!!

I dont think that attitude will help you at all.

Last yr we got a £100 for being late paying our tax bill... completely my fault but it was due to my dad being in a coma, my husband being ill and me not knowing whether i was coming or going.

Anyway they sent me a £100 fine and i rang them and explained the circumstances and they waived it for us.

I have found that if you actually communicate with the tax office and are reasonable with them then they are (mostly!) with you.

It takes about 10 mins to fill in a tax form (i do one every year) .