PAYE Problems

jolo_2

I posted this about a month ago and received two replies, one of whom was going to get back to me but hasnt so Im still searching for help!!!
I thought i had filed our PAYE return online last may. To cut a long story short Id actually only filed a test return. As it was the first time id ever done it online, and the first time id ever done a paye return at all, I thought Id done it right and though no more about it. Then on the 26th March I got a letter to say it hadnt been filed correctly and they were fining us £100 per month until it was filed properly along with a bill for £900 worth of fines from may to feb. I did it that day, and wrote to appeal, as they had record of my test file etc, today I got a letter to say the appeal was being looked at along with another fine of £200!!!! from feb to end March!!
Surely they could have told me before March that it wasnt correctly done???
Please can anyone give me any guidance? When I last posted this someone said they thought there was a cap on the amount of fines they were allowed to charge.
Please - I'm desperate!!!
Jo

WHA

This subject received a lot of attention on these boards (maybe you should do a search to find it), and also on the following website:-

http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=167275&d=1025&h=1019&f=1026&dateformat=%25o%20%25B%20%25Y

Basically, if you havn't already done so, re-submit the data properly (i.e. don't tick the "test" box), so at least the fines don't get any higher.

HMRC sent out thousands of these fines and have no doubt received thousands of appeal letters - yours will probably be in the piles with all the others and will probably take a few weeks/months for them to deal with and reply.

Dunc6

The concession limits the penalty to either £100 or the duty shown on the P35, whichever is greater and the penalty is a one-off penalty rather than a monthly one. This is shown in the Employer's Compliance Manual (ECH 21020)

Hope this helps