hmrc letter today - 'electricians tax safe plan' - what to do?

moomoominx

Has anyone else had one of these letters from the good old hmrc - regarding a 'electricians tax safe plan' -
'you may of already recived a letter from hmrc about the ETSP as e said in our original letter we do not think that everyone we are writing to owes us tax but we do know that some electricians have not yet told us about all of their income, and so havent paid the right amount of tax.
if you have not yet told us about your income, please call.... by 15th may. We can help you put your tax affairs right.If you cant pay all you owe immediately,we may be able to arrange payment by instalment.

• we are now using new techinques to identify those electricians who have nt paid the right amount of tax;
• new data on electricans from trade bodies and suppliers

• anonymous tips offs from tax evasion hotline

So im left wondering what it means really? my hubby has been self employed for 5 yrs and always get the tax return in on time etc - invoices receipts all ok - never overclaim -
so should i ring them and tell them this OR just ignore the letter as as afr as were concerned we have told them about all of the income we have received - sorry this may seem a little vague but so is the letter and the details they have on the website about it? many thanks

corky2

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/question-answer-board/19520-hmrcs-electricians-tax-safe-plan-help.html

Moomoomix - if hubby has declared everything then do nothing. HMRC likes to "target" different professions each year, particularly those where cash in hand could be a possibility.

chrismac1

It means they are trying to put the frighteners on you. if you keep decent records and account for all income, ignore it.

Their stuff about "targetting" is baloney, HMRC could not hit a barn door at 6 foot with a hydrogen bomb. One example of many I could give you:

A dance school client was down for a PAYE inspection, 2 HMRC staff coming for the day on a 200 mile round trip.

Me: Is there anything in particular you are targetting here?
HMRC: False self-employment.
Me: This client has 23 dance instructors, all through payroll. In 2010-11 tax year we paid across £18k in PAYE and NI.
HMRC: Did you?

DID YOU? DID YOU! !!!!!!!

She rang back the following day to call off the visit. So much for targetting. Their pinpoint tracking system could not even tell them we'd paid them £18k and had 23 staff all going through the books!

Targetting! You are 'avin' a laugh!

moomoominx

Many thanks for the replies - i think looking at the forum link from corky that i will go with the theory
'dont trouble trouble until trouble troubles you!' damn HMRC! - and i think your right about them putting the frighteners on people chrismac, im going to file the letter away - and im not going to call them - we have all our accounts upto date etc and have declared everything so as far as im concerned we toe the line and pay them enough so we dont have to 'take part' as we have done nothing wrong