Self Assessment Tax Issue

dontbegreedy

Hello all,

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas. I did until I heard about a tax demand letter from the HMRC.

I need some advice as I don't think I should owe the money. Apparently I owe £1300++. I haven't even lived in the UK since 2008! I was a mystery shopper in 2008 for less than a year and did my self assessment tax return online while I was living in Spain during 2009. I paid what I owed and thought that was all I had to do.

I am planning on returning to the UK to live (I have a british passport) in 2013 and registered my address at a friends house and she received a tax bill for me saying that because I failed to submit a tax return for the 2009 year I owed £200 and this increased every 6 months that I didn't pay it and after 2011 it increased to beyond £1300...

I have had no idea about this until today.. Do you think I will be able to get out of paying this? I only working as a mystery shopper for a few months, not even a full year!! I owed money and I paid it back before the due date and that was the last I heard about taxes until now.

I want to call the HMRC and see if I can negotiate or not have to pay anything back at all. I just want to get some advice of what I should do and what my chances are of not having to pay it...

Thanks in advance and happy new year to all!

rogerblack

The problem is presumably that you diddn't withdraw from self-assessment.
You presumably did a tax return for 08/09, and then diddn't complete a return when it was due for the tax year 09/10 or 10/11.

I note you have 35 daysish to complete your 11/12 return.

I am unsure if it is a valid reason for not having filed when you should have - if you're outside the country.

Caz3121

did you complete a P85 to advise the tax office you were leaving the UK?

dontbegreedy

Caz3121 wrote: »

did you complete a P85 to advise the tax office you were leaving the UK?

No, I didn't know I had too fill in any other forms so I didn't withdraw or do any further tax returns. So does this mean I have to pay it all back? Jeez!!! This is not the Christmas present I was hoping for...

Dunroamin

Did you complete tax forms in Spain when you went to live there?

dontbegreedy

No, I didn't do any tax forms in Spain either, I was told that I didn't need to do one every year... I then moved back to Australia where I did my tax there. I was making no income from the UK during that entire time.

orangeslimes

Phoning HMRC is not much use usually. You would be better writing to them.

Also just because you are living and making income abroad does not necessarily mean you are not liable for UK tax - the law in this area is complicated and you may need expert advice to work out your tax liability for the years 2009-2012, as I think what you probably have to do is try and fill in your tax return for the relevant years (even if it is to prove you owe nothing)

KiKi

It is highly unlikely you'd get out of paying it. You have to let HMRC know that you are no longer self employed, and that you left the country. Otherwise they have no way of knowing that you are no longer self employed, and will assume that you're just failing to complete tax returns.

Call them, but I hold out little hope.

Equally, if you were self employed after 06 April 2008, then you would have had to complete an SA form for 2008-9, which wouldn't have been due / settled until 2010 if submitted online, so is it possible that you owe tax for 08-09?

dontbegreedy

Just thought I would give you an update. I called the HMRC and they looked through my files and said that I owed £100 for not completing the tax return for the 2010 year. They asked me why I hadn't completed it, I explained my situation and now the fine will be waived as soon as I submit that tax return.. Phew! :j

Thanks for all your help and advice!