Stamp Duty Land Tax

SDLT_Geek

Diffy55 said:

Hi, I have now had 3 letters from HMRC regarding non payment of land tax when I moved.  I know my solicitor paid and have evidence of such which has been forwarded to HMRC but they so far have declined to even acknowledge it.  I have written to HMRC three times and my solicitor has contacted them too but they are still saying they have not received the funds and are now commencing 'recovery proceedings' which I take to mean sending the heavies round.  I have tried contacting their helpline, only to be told I need the account details from which the sum was paid.  Clearly I don't have those, as they are my solicitor's which they will not pass on to me.  I have written again to my solicitor, asking him to contact HMRC about this and also to my MP asking for help but otherwise I have no idea what to do.  The money WAS paid by my solicitor, HMRC says it wasn't.  It also now appears I will have to pay the interest being accrued on this sum which is totally unfair.  Can anyone advise me of anything else I can do?  Thank you

The process for paying SDLT is usually as follows.  The conveyancer files an online return with HMRC.  That generates a form called SDLT5 which comes to the conveyancer by email.  You could ask for a copy of it.  It has a Unique Transaction Reference Number, UTRN.  The conveyancer then sends the money for the SDLT electronically quoting the UTRN.  If all works well HMRC allocate the payment against the UTRN.  But sometimes it goes wrong, the money is not properly allocated and HMRC continue to chase for the money.

You could ask your conveyancers to confirm what reference they put on their payment and when it was made.  That way you could, if you want, write a meaningful reply to HMRC.  Other people might leave it to the conveyancers to deal with, if they have said they will deal with it.

Diffy55

@SDLT_Geek Great advice, thank you, I'll do that

issuesdlthelp108

Hi @Diffy55, I am also exactly in your position,  I received 3rd letter yesterday,  Solicitor saying they entered wrong UTRN and sent proof to HMRC to correct it. I called this morning to HMRC,  he saying he will request payment team to look this ASAP.

Just wondering what happens next? Did you receive more letters or how it resolved your issue. Thanks for any inputs.