Tax office have lost all of my documents - help!

lowonmoney

I put in a claim to get back overpaid tax for the last 3 years and sent in all of my original payslips, P60s and bank statements as requested. I sent these by special delivery as I was told when I telephoned them. After 3 months of not hearing anything I telephoned them several times to be fobbed off that someone would call me back (which they didn't). When I eventually got to speak to someone they told me that they had received my documents, sent them to another tax office, who then sent them back again and in the process they have been lost.

I am worried as my personal details are floating around for the taking. All the tax office have to say is send in copies and we'll deal with your claim! They said that in these circumstances they will accept copies - which is very big of them.

Does anyone know what my rights are in this case?

Zaphod_Beblebrocks

Don't know what your rights are but myself and at least 3 others at work have had paperwork "lost" when appealing tax credit awards. Seems to be quite common.

hungary97_2

as an ex Revenue memeber of staff i can agree that post goes missing internally all the time

i believe that in one or two cases when working on a case they do not like the post is filed in a special file called B1N if you know what i mean

ctm_2

Your documents may not actually be lost, but just not able to be located at this moment in time (there is a difference).

I would suggest sending in copies, get your refund dealt with, and if your original documents have not turned up by then send in a letter stating that you are making an official complaint that your original documents have not been returned, and take it from there.

Hoddie_2

hungary97 wrote:

as an ex Revenue memeber of staff i can agree that post goes missing internally all the time

i believe that in one or two cases when working on a case they do not like the post is filed in a special file called B1N if you know what i mean

I would think this says more about yourself (or those who threw post away) than the Revenue in general. Post is treated seriously by the organisation but they can't be held responsible if a handful of their employees are unprofessional. If post is part worked and then subsequently lost, it costs HMRC more to actually deal with the issue, they have no reason to purposely 'lose' post.

oldwiring

Thamks Hoddie. From my time I think that the target driven system often led to diffivult matters being put on the back burner, to avoid a rap over the knucles for not being up to speed. Funy thing is that an afternnon's work could resole long outstandings, if tackled with some thought.

lowonmoney

Thanks for your responses. Will I be entitled to ask for them to replace all of my original documents?

Hoddie_2

I'm not sure why you'd want them. The only reason you're told to keep P60s safe is in case HMRC ask to see them! Providing they accept the copies, they'll be able to send you an official letter with the same details on so you have something for your records.

Edit: Forgot about payslips - sorry.

fallenwiccan

Hoddie wrote:

I would think this says more about yourself (or those who threw post away) than the Revenue in general. Post is treated seriously by the organisation but they can't be held responsible if a handful of their employees are unprofessional. If post is part worked and then subsequently lost, it costs HMRC more to actually deal with the issue, they have no reason to purposely 'lose' post.

as an ex-revenue employee myself i agree entirely with you, i dealt with post on a daily (or nightly in my case) basis and any enclosed documents were taken highly seriously as we all knew how we would feel if they had been our own.

i would put in a complaint and im sure they'd have someone try and trace it up they should have a note on your case as who was the last person to send it somewhere (if they were careful enough to leave a detailed note) so that they could find out where it got lost

Cook_County

I do not know why you sent original documents unless your return was being audited, because HMRC do not require these to verify entries on tax returns? Just curious?

ctm_2

Cook_County wrote:

I do not know why you sent original documents unless your return was being audited, because HMRC do not require these to verify entries on tax returns? Just curious?

Probably because not everyone has to complete self assesment tax returns, and for refunds being dealt with outside of the self assessment system proof is required of earnings.

If HMRC do not have the details on their wonderful computer systems they will not accept photocopies, only originals.

Under the self assessment system you sign a declaration saying that the information you provided is correct and complete, and HMRC have plenty of comeback if this is proven to be false.

There are not the same laws on HMRC's side for calculations and repayments outside of self assessment, so HMRC have a duty to make sure that they have all the information and that it is correct. For that they will often need proof of the tax paid that the individual is claiming back.