Tax Office Error

Newcomer1234

Hi, I am not sure where else to post this but would really appreciate some advice.

Dad died last year. Tax office almost immediately gave him a rebate, we said its not right because you were too quick off the mark. We wrote and told them what else to include and they billed us. They then wrote and said fill out a self assessment for him. We did.

As a result of filling out the self assessment we realised he had a much bigger tax bill due. It was fine we were ok about paying it.

They sent a revised calculation out and gave us a REBATE! Their calculation totally ignores the money they gave us as a rebate when he died.

I wrote a nice letter saying the Executors had looked at their calculation and wondered if it was incorrect and please could they re-visit it. That was over 2 months ago and we have heard nothing.

I think we may owe around £2k What do we do? I don't want to end up being stung for interest.

Thanks in advance

xylophone

I wrote a nice letter saying the Executors had looked at their calculation and wondered if it was incorrect and please could they re-visit it. That was over 2 months ago and we have heard nothing.

Do you have proof of delivery?

Newcomer1234

Thanks for the reply - its a really obvious suggestion but never occurred to me!
I will write again....along the lines of 'further to my letter dated blah blah copy enclosed' and this time send it recorded delivery.

I stupidly thought as it was addressed to a specific person rather than a general letter that it would get dealt with.

One to chalk up to experience, thanks again.

Pennywise

Newcomer1234 wrote: »

I stupidly thought as it was addressed to a specific person rather than a general letter that it would get dealt with.

Doesn't work like that. There is no "ownership" within HMRC. No benefit whatsoever in trying to get the same person to deal with ongoing issues - in fact could make things worse. The people opening the mail won't have a clue who "john smith" is, where he works, etc - and they aren't going to waste time looking through staff lists to try to find him. If by some strange fluke it does get directed to him, if he's left, or on sick leave, etc., it may sit in his electronic "in tray" for days, weeks, etc until someone else notices it's there. Real paper post isn't handled - all post is scanned and electronically allocated to staff, all over the country.

Dymphna60

I am also having trouble with HMRC and deceased persons income tax.
Been waiting 9 months since paperwork sent . Fed up chasing it .
Have worked out around £ 500 owed but have also been sent some random rebate . Would they issue a fine ?
They acknowledge reviving the paperwork in November but in a phone call last week I was told nothing was done with it for 5 months when some notes were made and nothing since .
I am awaiting a letter within 2 weeks.
Will be very annoyed if they apply a fine .

The_Biff

I posted earlier about my (registered) letters being ignored. I had appealed a Late Filing Penalty, but they kept ignoring that & even said I needed to file a return even though you could see I had filed on my Tax Account. I spoke with a guy there who helped a bit & said my letters had not been "processed". This was actually making me ill. I think HMRC is so underfunded now that it is not working, and the employees are doing their best.
To stop the "harassment" (and I've never done this before) I had to go through my MP. Some action is now being taken.

Newcomer1234

Thanks for all your replies. Very educational and more than a bit scarey.

Not really sure how to proceed. Maybe a telephone call.... Or maybe sending them MY version of the tax calculation and a cheque for what I am convinced we owe them.

As if losing dad wasn't enough we have to do battle with the taxman. Getting probate was easy, so should this be.

BoGoF

Did you enter the amount of the refund previously issued? There is a box on the Tax Return for refunds already issued for the year.

Newcomer1234

BoGof, you are a genius.

That is a large part of the problem!

Because Dad died in October the tax office presumably hadn't got forms prepared for year ending April 2019 and the one we were given asked what rebates had been had in the year to 5 April 2018 when they needed to know about 2019.

I didn't complete the form - step mum did, and I didn't spot the error.

Now I can call them and get it resolved...thank you thank you thank you......