Help with HMRC self employment

Trunk_z

Hi all,

Was hoping for some advice.

My partner used to do some very occasional work as a dance teacher. She registered to be self employed years ago. She's not done any paid work in this way for a couple of years. She last filled in a tax return in November 2012, stating that she had earned nothing. Now, my partner is quite organised and will do something after a prompt, such as the reminder letter.

This morning she received a letter saying that she owes £1200 for not completing a tax return. Do they still send reminders to fill one in? She doesn't remember getting a reminder to do it, so assumed that as her last one was 0 earnings, and she had done no more self employed work that it would have been closed.

Any help would be most welcome!
Chris

PlutoinCapricorn

Once registered as a sole trader, you are expected to complete a self assessment each year until you inform them that you have officially ceased trading. There is a field on the form for this. Some people also inform HMRC earlier, so that they can stop paying Class 2 NI.

Reminders are normally sent out: has there been any change of address?

Trunk_z

Thanks forthe reply.

No change of address or anything.

It's just frustrating that there were no interim fine statements, it just went straight to £1200.
Fair enough, she should have done it reminder or not. But £1200 is steep considering 0 earnings as a sole trader for 2 years - now a student too!

Trunk_z

So, tried to phone HMRC for over an hour today - only to be hung up on. Will try again tomorrow!

Trunk_z

Update:

After a lengthy session on hold, it turns out it was worth the wait.

They were able to sort the problem out and we no longer need to worry

As it turns out, the reason for the long waiting times is due to industrial action.

Hope this is of some help to someone else, it is always worth phoning people and remembering to use your manners!

Chris