Late Return Penalties
The potential late return penalties are structured as follows:
- a £100 fixed penalty which arises regardless of whether any tax is actually due or unpaid at the date due
- daily penalties of £10 per day which start to accrue after 3 months, subject to a maximum of £900
- after 6 months of default, an additional penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, if greater
- if still outstanding after12 months, a further 5% or £300, whichever is greater.
In the case of your late-client, HMRC policy is not to impose late filing penalties where the taxpayer has died before the return due date. This is on the basis that HMRC “cannot show that the person on whom the notice was served has incurred any penalty because he or she died before it became due” and is explained in HMRC’s Self-Assessment Manual at paragraph SAM61270 and especially SAM99010 which covers agreeing on an extended filing deadline. HMRC should be made aware of the situation and the return then subsequently filed when possible. Remember that penalty notices are automatically generated and so it is likely that an appeal will have to be lodged quoting the above guidance.
An appeal can be made against a penalty on the basis of having a “reasonable excuse”. This is broadly defined as circumstances that prevented filing, for example, illness of the client or a close relative, or loss of business records due to theft, fire, etc. The conditions preventing filing must continue throughout the default period, i.e. the period from the due date to the actual filing date (para 23, Sch 55, FA 2009, CH61500).
HMRC do have a discretionary power to withdraw the requirement to file a return where, for example, it is issued in error, or they agree it is not required. If agreed by HMRC, any penalties related to the return in question would cease to apply. The time limit for withdrawal of notice to make a return is 2 years from the end of the tax year concerned, i.e. by 5 April 2022 for the 19/20 return. This can be done either at the request of the taxpayer or agent or otherwise at HMRC’s own discretion (s.8B TMA 1970, SAM120115.
Provisional Tax Returns
Depending on the complexity of the return and the information currently held, it may be possible to file a provisional return which can be amended later. HMRC’s guidance is contained in SAM121190 and on page TRG14 of the Tax Return Guide SA150.
Late payment penalties (Sch 56 FA 2009, CH150000)
Additional penalties apply in the case of late payment of tax as follows:
- 5% of the amount of tax unpaid 30 days after the payment due date;
- further penalties of 5% of any amounts of tax still unpaid at six months;
- further penalties of 5% of any amounts of tax still unpaid at 12 months
Note that there is no published equivalent for late payment penalties of HMRC’s “special treatment” for late filing penalties in deceased cases outlined above– so consideration should be given to making a provisional payment on an estimated basis in the case you refer to above. However, no penalty will be chargeable if HMRC agrees there is a reasonable excuse for the failure to pay on time – see CH155550.
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