Help ! HMRC Hassling my husband for over a year and issued a fine.

anselld

There are plenty of reasons HMRC can request someone to submit self assessment.  Did they send a "notice to file" for the relevant years?  If so he should have filed regardless of the reasons and whether or not they were true.
Likewise if they sent notice to file and it was not done they are probably not going to listen to anything until they get the filings.  Perhaps he should employ an accountant to straighten things out.

pinkteapot

As others have said, sometimes you have to complete Self Assessment even if not self-employed. If they say you have to do it, you have to do it. I've had to do it for over ten years now and I'm a basic rate PAYE employee with no taxable benefits. *sigh*

cr1mson

Maclove1 said:

Actually, the number is a 0300 number which apparently isn't premium.  The letters look pretty legit too....

Just checked online, and it says 'you are registered for self-assessment'.   Why?

Having to complete self assessment forms doesn't mean you are self employed there are other reasons why you are required to complete a self assessment return. See Self Assessment tax returns: Who must send a tax return - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

If you do not believe that he should need to complete a self assessment form you can appeal more info here Disagree with a tax decision: Appeal against a penalty - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Flugelhorn

I am still doing S-A each year, at one point I had 4 employers and higher rate tax, they never could get the tax code right and used to give up and say - "just do a self assessment and we'll sort it out then". 3 years into retirement and I am still doing  S-A mainly because of savings interest (I think) - it is quite easy to do and solves the problem quickly

sheramber

it would have been less hassle to complete the return required.

Did he perhaps think about becoming self employed and register but never started?

Scorpio33

From:

https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/who-must-send-a-tax-return 

Who must send a tax return

You must send a tax return if, in the last tax year (6 April to 5 April), you were:

• self-employed as a ‘sole trader’ and earned more than £1,000 (before taking off anything you can claim tax relief on)
• a partner in a business partnership

You will not usually need to send a return if your only income is from your wages or pension. But you may need to send one if you have any other untaxed income, such as:

• some COVID-19 grant or support payments
• money from renting out a property
• tips and commission
• income from savings, investments and dividends
• foreign income

Check if you need to send a tax return if you’re not sure.

Other reasons for sending a return

You can choose to fill in a tax return to:

• claim some Income Tax reliefs
• prove you’re self-employed, for example to claim Tax-Free Childcare or Maternity Allowance

If you get Child Benefit

If your income (or your partner’s, if you have one) was over £50,000, you may need to send a return and pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Albermarle

Flugelhorn said:

I am still doing S-A each year, at one point I had 4 employers and higher rate tax, they never could get the tax code right and used to give up and say - "just do a self assessment and we'll sort it out then". 3 years into retirement and I am still doing  S-A mainly because of savings interest (I think) - it is quite easy to do and solves the problem quickly

On the other hand when I was still working, and a higher rate taxpayer with additional pension contributions and a company car, expense account, savings interest etc they told me to stop doing SA . I liked doing SA as I could see the tax calculation clearly and see if something did not look right.
I tried to do a SA and it blocked me.
I think the general strategic push from HMRC is to move away from SA to the online personal tax account, but it is a bit erratic in its implementation.

nigelbb

If you earn over £100,000 even if it's all PAYE you are still required to submit a self assessment tax return. 

[Deleted User]

@Maclove1 how has this been resolved ?