Threatening letters from HMRC

chrismac1

"But the database containing the accounting is only a single entity and therefore the data should only come from that source as regards payments made / balances outstanding?"

Not so I am afraid Mike, not in the wacky world of HMRC. I once had credit control on my landline saying a client owed £200, whilst the relevant area - CIS in this case - was on my mobile saying the account was clear, which was correct. Jobsworthiness prevailed for 2 minutes as they each refused to talk to one another until I put the 2 phones mouthpiece to earpiece and forced them to! But the thing is that both of them were looking at supposedly "real time" screens with the relevant client account statement, yet each one had a different number on it. Assume nothing with HMRC other than the statement at the end of every post I put up on here!

tabbyfish

EMJHARTS, if your agent has written requesting a time to pay he may have meant it takes 2 months to get a reply. Depending on where the request was sent it could take longer. CT post regarding arrears is deal t with in Colwyn Bay and then passed to a tech office. If he sent the request to the accounts office or the inspectors this will delay things further.
The best thing to do is call the number on the letter as time to pays can be done over the telephone in 10 min. A few security questions will be asked then a few questions regarding your situation etc and how you propose to clear the arrears.
Also make any payments you can in the mean time. You do not need permission to make payments. This will go in your favor and also reduce any interest charged.