tax return

chrismac1

Note my suggested reply will flush out your accountant if he or she is just using HMRC as a cover. If it was me, I would have other evidence of my trip to the tax office than just me saying I went there.

billozz

our guy has told us that we are not, by far, the only ones to have a problem he reckons there are hundreds of people who have been finedd due to the tax office saying they havent got their return, he also said that something similar happened last year, but not as bad
thanks for all the replies
Bill

donquine

It is entirely possible to walk to a tax office and drop off a return in person; I have this before on many an occasion. Following delivery, I have documented in my records that I have hand delivered the return. Your accountant is quite correct - HMRC do not issue receipts.

I haven't had any problems with partnership returns being lost, but I've certainly seen more than my fair share of corporate tax returns going walkabouts over the years (obviously before online filing became mandatory for corporate returns). Sometimes, where there is a backlog, letters get lost within piles of paperwork. Sometimes, where there is a HMRC office reorganisation, things get lost when making their way to their new home. I don't think it's incompetence, I genuinely think the Revenue are understaffed and struggling. I have a great deal of sympathy for front line staff and have only come across what I would deem to be a rogue Inspector once.

When a return has gone missing, I've simply resent HMRC a copy of my original submission and they've accepted that the date on my cover letter is the date I posted it to them and they've logged the return as being received on the following day. Never have I been challenged on my word - and as a qualified accountant, I would be horrified to have my integrity called into question.

Regarding the submission of partnership returns, you can indeed file these online. Personally, I think this is a great idea as you are given an online receipt from HMRC which can be used as absolute proof you submitted the return.

It may well be that your accountant doesn't have the right software capable of online filing and has not communicated this well to you, rather than the accountant lying. This needs to be sorted out, as you and your advisor need a clearer line of dialogue.

Assuming your accountant is not lying and is a qualified accountant, I cannot see why HMRC would not take his word that he hand delivered your return on the date specified. HMRC staff freely admit that things go missing on their watch - balance of probabilities suggests that the return has been buried somewhere, never to resurface.