We’ve got your back!
No one can deny that 2020 has brought everybody huge challenges on many fronts. However, the service provided by the Tax Authorities and also the major banks is so woeful that it is not acceptable for them to continue to hide behind the coronavirus crisis.
As a result, so many members of our professional body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales have reported numerous service issues and delays, the Institute has now made representations to the Tax Authorities to advise amongst other matters that taxpayers have been waiting up to three months just for a reference number to be issued for self-employment registrations, five months for VAT registrations to be completed, six months for Research & Development Relief Claims to be processed and more than six months for Corporation Tax losses to be actioned.
We have several cases ourselves where we have appealed against incorrectly issued Corporation Tax Penalty Notices which are taking up to five months to be dealt with. In the meantime, HMRC are instructing bailiffs to collect the penalties which were not due on the first place.
Whilst appreciating the pressure on HMRC’s resources and its achievement in delivering support in many cases, the ICAEW has pressed for an improvement of service standards.
We hope that HMRC will listen to these representations but in the meantime we would urge all clients to expect continued delays with all dealings with HMRC and to exercise as much patience as possible when waiting for matters to be dealt with. We are doing what we can to bring these matters to the attention of the authorities.
