HMRC Fines!!!

Thejambo365

Hi,
hope someone can help. I have just received a letter from HMRC stating I owe almost £3000 in fines dating back to 2016. At the time I had a payment plan sorted by an accountant and believed everything was paid appropriately. I never had any notification of fines and there is nothing outstanding on my online account. This letter was the first time they have contacted me in eight years. I called HMRC and was told the debt needs to be paid immediately and that a debt collection agency is in the process of being engaged. I am at my wits end. Is there anything I can do?

Bookworm105

are you certain the letter is really from HMRC?

you need a better understanding of what makes up the 3k total as it seems a relatively small amount and could be a combination or pre and post 2016 "issues"

Thejambo365

The fines are both for 05/04/2016 and are £300 and £2558.70.
I have completed an online form to appeal. There is no other information and the agent I called at HMRC told me to pay or debt collection. Very unhelpful! 
It seems a bit unfair to me that this is the first time I have been contacted about these fines if they were charged in 2016. I used an accountant to sort out my tax issues at the time and thought any payment plan would have included any fines due.
As you can imagine I am shocked to get this letter 8 years later!

flaneurs_lobster

Again, are you sure this letter is from HMRC?

The phone number you called, was it from the letter or did you call a number found on the HMRC or GOV.uk websites?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Given you have provided so little information about the nature of these "fines" it is hard for anyone to give much meaningful help.

Are they personal to you?  Self Assessment?

Employer related?

Company related?

So much mission infirmation.

Thejambo365

The letter I received is bona fide HMRC. The telephone number is confirmed as HMRC phone line.
The lack of information is because the letter I received has no further information! I had some issues back in 2016 working as a self employed joiner. My "colleagues" gave me some duff advice about paying tax ( I was a teenager just out of school at the time). I then went to an accountant to sort it all and a payment plan was agreed which I kept to (all paid OK). This letter has totally come out of the blue. There is nothing to pay on my online account. I was highly sceptical at the time but the letter appears genuine and when I called the agent they confirmed it. I am just baffled how I can receive this letter out of the blue 8 years later. I have had nothing in between these times. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Thejambo365 said:

The letter I received is bona fide HMRC. The telephone number is confirmed as HMRC phone line.
The lack of information is because the letter I received has no further information! I had some issues back in 2016 working as a self employed joiner. My "colleagues" gave me some duff advice about paying tax ( I was a teenager just out of school at the time). I then went to an accountant to sort it all and a payment plan was agreed which I kept to (all paid OK). This letter has totally come out of the blue. There is nothing to pay on my online account. I was highly sceptical at the time but the letter appears genuine and when I called the agent they confirmed it. I am just baffled how I can receive this letter out of the blue 8 years later. I have had nothing in between these times. 

Did you complete a Self Assessment return for each tax year you were running your own business?

Have you checked your Self Assessment account to see if it shows any tax returns are outstanding?

Thejambo365

Yes. Nothing outstanding. All tax returns are up to date and completed by my accountant since 2016. This must relate to the issue I had then. 

Bookworm105

Thejambo365 said:

Yes. Nothing outstanding. All tax returns are up to date and completed by my accountant since 2016. This must relate to the issue I had then. 

we cannot guess what happened in 2016
only yourself or your accountant are in a position to go through what should have happened each year and what did happen each year from 2016 onwards 

lisyloo

Are HMRC subject to the statute of limitations?

Phoenix72

lisyloo said:

Are HMRC subject to the statute of limitations?

No they're not