Can I appeal this tax return ( long post sorry)

es_1998

Sorry if i’m wrong place, i’m new to this.

So basically i’ve never really been self employed, middle of 2019 I went on universal credit as I had literally no income and wasn’t working in any way it stayed like that till Christmas 2019 really, albeit temporary roles where I was still on universal credit anyway as I wasn’t making enough to stop earning universal credit.

About November 2019, I applied for a job where basically I would be handing out uber eats flyers, but I had to get UTR and declare myself self employed for the role and show them proof. However long story short I never actually started the job.

Since then i’ve been working on and off due to COVID but all this has been PAYE. So i’ve actually never been self employed really. I understand I did get a UTR and declared myself self employed but I haven’t actually done any self employed work. 

Today I got a letter saying that I owe £100 because I didn’t complete my tax return for the year 5th April 2019-5th April 2020.

Can I appeal the tax return? If not I understand it’s my fault and willing to pay, but I haven’t actually done any self employed work so I don’t think I should be paying a fine when I haven’t received any money for being self employed?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

If you genuinely do not meet the criteria for a tax return then you can ask for the return to be withdrawn.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/self-assessment-manual/sam120115

Are you satisfied you paid the correct amount of tax in 2019:20 and are not owed a refund?

es_1998

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

If you genuinely do not meet the criteria for a tax return then you can ask for the return to be withdrawn.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/self-assessment-manual/sam120115

Are you satisfied you paid the correct amount of tax in 2019:20 and are not owed a refund?

Yes I am because any tax was through PAYE and was paid automatically. 

I’ve never really been self employed so appeal I guess

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Appealing means you need to file the return but want the £100 penalty cancelled.

HMRC wihdrawing the return means no return is required and therefore there cannot be a penalty

es_1998

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Appealing means you need to file the return but want the £100 penalty cancelled.

HMRC wihdrawing the return means no return is required and therefore there cannot be a penalty

i’ve phoned twice, one advisor said I had to pay anyway, the other said they need the return filed but with evidence of me being on UC and whatever else i’ve earned and that I can appeal the £100 penalty. From my evidence they’ll decide if I need to pay the £100 or not....