Tax office bullies

myrnahaz

We pay our tax through a paye system for wages, so when it came to Self Assessment time I had no problems with waiting until last minute (as usual) to do the returns because I knew it was just a matter of meeting the deadline - no bills to pay or anything.
Imagine my horror to find that DH had a massive underpayment (over £1,000). We found out that the tax code he was given by HMR&C was incorrect BUT, because we didn't "tell them" about the error (!!?) until January, we'd missed the deadline for being able to spread the tax through this year's tax.
I argued that I was a layperson, not an accountant, so I couldn't bring it to their attention because I didn't know there was a problem (and you're always meant to do exactly what the taxman tells you to do) I reminded her that it was the Revenue's fault that the tax code was wrong because they'd had all the correct information from us, but the lovely lady from HMR&C Debt Management just started asking if I had any assets and what were they worth if I sold them. I tried the angle "but we don't have that kind of money" but she just spouted out the amount that DH had earned (the year before last!!) and threatened to send in bailiffs. :mad:
I used to have a really good relationship with my local tax office (in the days when I could deal with a human), but since everything has been reorganised and centralised it's changed for the worse - the one I spoke to was hateful. I'm a really honest person and always do exactly what I'm told etc etc, but she treated me like she KNEW I was on the fiddle. Surely the ones on the fiddle don't send in tax returns in the first place.

uktim29

Looks like spam to me because you've written this in umpteen posts!

moonrakerz

uktim29 wrote: »

Looks like spam to me because you've written this in umpteen posts!

Yep ! he's started sending PMs as well now !

myrnahaz

Do you mean me? I'm not a spammer - honestly.
How can my whinge about the revenue make me a spammer?
And I'm not a 'he' - and I've only ever sent one PM (in answer to a girl who wanted a nappy wrapping device).
Am I missing something?

I've just checked back on my 603 posts, and none of them are duplicated. Arghh - I'm getting a complex!

ifonlyitwaseasier

not you myrnahaz, there was someone spamming almost all the vent posts, looks like they've had their post deleted tho.

myrnahaz

Thank heaven's for that. I think I was getting a bit hysterical in my last post - lol!

ifonlyitwaseasier

no worries

Pollycat

myrnahaz
I just wondered if you ever got your problem sorted.

It really does sound heavy-handed on HMRC's part to threaten bailiffs.

Can you update us, please.

eyelinerprincess

Lol, that's the problem when posts get deleted, things get taken the wrong way...

Anyway, have you got it sorted yet?

myrnahaz

It's 'sorted', but not in any way that was good for me, unfortunately. The first woman I spoke to at the revenue was sympathetic but said she'd have to pass me on to someone in the debt recovery dept as she thought I'd missed the deadline for adding it to this year's paye. I assumed it would be another human, but I got Devil Woman instead. I was so scared that I ended up paying it that same day, but yesterday they sent me another demand for £82.xx for interest on the late payment.
My accountant does the salaries now, and I'm going to do this year's self assessment return by September.