Revenue and Customs on fishing expedition

mattyprice4004

How long does it take to write 'I haven't sold any property overseas, so your records are incorrect.'

ap1986

This thread has been going on since Sunday evening... In that time you could've typed them a letter saying 'haven't got a clue what you're on about, you've probably got the wrong person', taken it to the Post Office, sent it recorded delivery and had proof of delivery.

You'll be blaming them and wanting compo in a month or two when they've commenced an investigation because they haven't heard back from you (read your wife).

kalaika

The letter is likely to be genuine. HMRC currently have a 'Property Sales Campaign' which allows anyone to fess up before 9th August if they have sold property in the UK or abroad and may owe some tax on the income which has previously been undeclared.

OP, it is likely HMRC have some information that they believe impacts you/your wife in this regard and so have written to you to give you an opportunity to use the disclosure facility.

If you are sure you do not have anything to declare, write to them and say so. If they want to clarify anything or investigate further, I'm sure they will come back to you and ask.

More info:
http://www.accountancylive.com/croner/jsp/editorialDetails/category/Tax/Tax-Law-and-Regulation/editorial/Property-sellers-warned-on-HMRC-CGT-campaign
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/campaigns/psc.htm

nickcc

Eventually got through today and it turns out that this is indeed a fishing expedition as I suspected. It appears that anyone who has either moved home many times or has taken out bridging loans is liable to receive this standard letter. The reasons given where that the computer had shown that my Wife may have evaded CGT so the letter was automatically processed. It seems that thousands (quote from HMRC) of these letters have been sent out, many incorrectly. My Wife's details have now, hopefully, been updated and no further action is expected.