No response to VOA challenge

NoReply

In March 2019 we purchased a bungalow in England in Tax Band D.

The previous owner had appealed against the original Band E on the basis of similar nearby properties and had it reduced to Band D.

In February 2023 the VOA informed us that our Tax Band was being increased to Band E because of improvements made by the previous owner.

We don't believe that the improvements were sufficient to justify an increase, and we spent several weeks gathering enough evidence for a challenge.

In April 2023 we sent the proposal form with our challenge by e-mail. We received an automated response saying "We usually respond to enquiries within a few days. However, complex enquiries could take up to 28 days.". We have not received a case reference number.

It is now the end of September 2023. We have sent a follow-up e-mail and received the same automated response.

We have used the contact form on the VOA website and received an automated response with no mention of time scales.

We have telephoned the VOA, but we cannot get past the call centre and speak to someone who knows what is going on. The call centre says that we just have to wait for someone to reply.

We have sent a complaint by e-mail but we have not received any response.

We feel hopeless. Please can anyone tell us how to get our challenge considered by the VOA?

lincroft1710

Something is not right


If you submitted an online proposal, then it should have been acknowledged very soon after arrival. I would have suggested you make a formal complaint, but you appear to have done that. If you haven't received a response to your complaint within 4 weeks of submitting it, I suggest you contact your MP and ask them to write to the VOA on your behalf

SlamminSam

I agree, they have a complaints procedure/protocol, use it. The VOA are an executive agency of HMRC. They are definitely an organisation not fit for purpose and you should raise this with your MP and request he or she contact the relevant Govt. Minister on your behalf -  probably the Chancellor!   

lincroft1710

SlamminSam said:

I agree, they have a complaints procedure/protocol, use it. The VOA are an executive agency of HMRC. They are definitely an organisation not fit for purpose and you should raise this with your MP and request he or she contact the relevant Govt. Minister on your behalf -  probably the Chancellor!   

I doubt any govt minister would get involved with such a low level complaint, especially the Chancellor! The OP has already used the VOA complaints procedure and as it is 3 months since they last posted, I would assume that the problem has been sorted.