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I'm a bit annoyed.
Comments
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I have never seen HMRC levy a penalty for late notification.
They are very bothered about late tax returns, late income tax and late Class 4, but far less so about the 3 month rule and about paying Class 2 on time.
As long as you register in time to get a UTR (if you don't already have one) and thus in time to file a tax return and pay your main bill, you should be okay.
IIRC, they stopped officially enforcing the £100 late registration fine in April 2010.0 -
zygurat789 wrote: »I have never seen HMRC levy a penalty for late notification.
They are very bothered about late tax returns, late income tax and late Class 4, but far less so about the 3 month rule and about paying Class 2 on time.
As long as you register in time to get a UTR (if you don't already have one) and thus in time to file a tax return and pay your main bill, you should be okay.
IIRC, they stopped officially enforcing the £100 late registration fine in April 2010.
Also, it seems that the '3 month rule' became 'as soon as possible' - but do we now have a 3 month rule again? Or not?
I'm more confused than ever!Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
This is getting more confusing than the HMRC website!
The previous three posts seem to be about registering for self-assessment, rather than registering as self-employed.0 -
There are three taxes:
Class 2 National Insurance.
Income tax.
Class 4 National Insurance.
So you have to register for Class 2 or claim exemption within the first 3 months.
[If you are trying to claim a UK state pension it is well worth registering ASAP]
Then your details will be passed to HMRC and that department will be interested in slotting you into the annual cycle of self assessment. Not owing any tax is not longer a get out.0 -
I won't have to pay any NI, either Class 2 or Class 4, as I am over retirement age and have been claiming my State Pension since 2010.
.
I also do not think I will have to pay any income tax.
I am awaiting my self-assessment form as I type.(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0 -
You obviously don't have a retired banker's pension.
Still a little bit of 30% tax for the unwary:
13/14 Income limit for the allowances for those born before 6 April 1948 £26,100
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-structure/table-a1.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm0 -
Yes, although is it reasonable that one should have to delve into the archive to find these things?
If that's the case, why are they still threatening to levy it now? As they seem to have done in the OP's case.
Also, it seems that the '3 month rule' became 'as soon as possible' - but do we now have a 3 month rule again? Or not?
I'm more confused than ever!
It's as soon as possible, but within 3 months, but as long as it doesn't result in a late return or payment of tax which isn't Class 2 NI, they let it slide.
There are no penalties for late Class 2, interest only runs on Class 4 and income tax. And there is very limited scope to appeal a late return, making these things more 'serious' deadlines, if you will.
Perhaps the OP could clarify where the threat of being fined came from and whether a specific amount was mentioned? There are plenty of vague warnings on the HMRC website, but the website isn't always 100% up-to-date. Plus the phone advisers are really hit and miss.0 -
It's as soon as possible, but within 3 months, but as long as it doesn't result in a late return or payment of tax which isn't Class 2 NI, they let it slide.
There are no penalties for late Class 2, interest only runs on Class 4 and income tax. And there is very limited scope to appeal a late return, making these things more 'serious' deadlines, if you will.
Perhaps the OP could clarify where the threat of being fined came from and whether a specific amount was mentioned? There are plenty of vague warnings on the HMRC website, but the website isn't always 100% up-to-date. Plus the phone advisers are really hit and miss.
It was the phone advisor when I rang to register as self-employed. She told me that I would not have to pay any NI, as I was over retirement age (which I already knew), took the appropriate details to register me as self-employed, said she would pass my details through to self-assessment and that I would hear from them soon, and then said there might be a fine for registering late. No amount was mentioned. I said I didn't think I was late for self-assessment, she agreed that I was not and said the fine referred to being late to register for self-employment.
Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, it has been an interesting thread.(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0 -
seven-day-weekend wrote: »It was the phone advisor when I rang to register as self-employed. She told me that I would not have to pay any NI, as I was over retirement age (which I already knew), took the appropriate details to register me as self-employed, said she would pass my details through to self-assessment and that I would hear from them soon, and then said there might be a fine for registering late. No amount was mentioned. I said I didn't think I was late for self-assessment, she agreed that I was not and said the fine referred to being late to register for self-employment.
Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, it has been an interesting thread.
As expected. I have no idea how the call centre system works (as an agent, I'm still furious we can no longer contact tax offices directly and thus can't talk to anyone with power either) but I get the impression many lines are fronted by people reading from scripts, rather than trained tax folk. The agent self-assessment line is marginally better than some of the other ones, but obviously you can't access that one.
I bet she was referring to the £100 late notification fine that wasn't always charged previously but has now been completely withdrawn. Not really her fault, I direct my frustrations to the top. HMRC is seriously under-resourced and this results in taxpayers not always getting the right advice/support. If I were you, I'd sleep easy.0 -
Resurrected this thread to say I have not yet been sent a self-assessment form. As my income from all sources is below my personal allowance, do I have to send in a self-assessment if they don't ask me to? I have figures ready, just in case!(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0
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