Ch 13 - Administration of tax Flashcards
(151 cards)
What are the different penalties for errors?
If taxpayer took reasonable care in completing and took reasonable steps to disclose errors, no penalties
If using an agent (acc) to complete the return, taxpayer remains responsible for it being correct
Penalties are raised by assessment sent by HMRC, and are due within 30 days
When do penalties become due?
30 days after HMRC assessment
if an agent (acc) prepares an individuals tax return, whose responsibility is it to get it right/.
Still the individuals
When are penalties suspended?
Suspended for up to 2 years to allow tax payers to put things right i.e. improve their acc records
can tax payers appeal against tax penalties?
Yes
When are penalties charged?
When the inaccuracies on the TR lead to
- Understated tax
- Excessive/false loss claim
- Excessive/false tax repayment
- Incorrect claims and reliefs
Or charged if taxpayer fails to advise HMRC of an incorrect ass w/in 30 days of the issue of the assessment
What are penalties based on?
The Potential Lost Revenue (PLR)
Basically is the unpaid tax as a result of the error, can be up to 100% of the PLR
Max and min penalties are given in table ‘Penalties for Incorrect Returns
What do penalties vary according to?
- Careless e.g. failing to check the return is consistent with underlying records
- Deliberate ut not concealed e.g. paying wages without operating PAYE/NIC, omitting large amounts of income from TR
- Deliberate and concealed e.g. creating false inv, destroying records
Give examples of carelessness that leads to penalties?
Failing to check the return is consistent with underlying records
Give examples of deliberate but not concealed that leads to penalties?
Paying wages without operating PAYE/NIC, omitting large amounts of income from TR
Give examples of deliberate AND concealed that leads to penalties?
Creating false inv
Destroying records
How can penalties be reduced?
Reduced where disclosure is made by the tax payer, with a greater reduction for unprompted disclosure
i.e. made at a time when there is no reason to suppose HMRC have discovered or are about to discover the error
Still get penalty if reasonable care was taken, but reduced to nil if rectified within 12 months through unprompted disclosure
Non-deliberate failure can be reduced to nil if taxpayer has a reasonable excuse
How can penalties be collected for failure to notify? (Fully or partially)
Collected from an officer of a company (e.g. director) if ‘deliberate action’ is attributable to him/her
What is a reasonable excuse?
A issue that prevents the taxpayer from meeting an obligation despite having taken reasonable care to comply
Give some examples of reasonable excuses?
- Death of a close relative of tax payer shortly before the due date
- Tax payer being required to have an unexpected stay in hospital
- Tax payer having a serious life-threatening illness
- Delays relating to disability of taxpayer
- Computer or software failure while preparing online return
- Service issues with HMRC’s online services
- Fire, flood, theft or postal delays
Lack of funds to pay is not reasonable excuse
Is lack of funds a reasonable excuse?
NO
What does the amount of the penalty based on?
The PLR, which depends on the relevant tax
- Income tax / CGT, the PLR is the tax outstanding at 31 Jan following the tax yr
- Corp tax the PLR is the amount of tax unpaid 12 months after the end of acc period
- For VAT, the PLR is the amount of VAT for which the person is liable for the period from the date on which they should have been registered, up to the date when they notified HMRC of their liability to be registered, or HMRC otherwise became aware of their liability to register
Where can you find max and min penalties for tax for failing to Notify?
In Penalties for Failure to Notify table
TYU3: Stewart has never had to submit a TR
During July 18 he inherited a large sum of money which he invests in offshore high interest deposits.
Deposits produce income of £2.5k in TY 18/19 and he didn’t realise he should inform HMRC.
He finally informs them in June2020 when he receives a letter from HMRC asking about the inheritance.
Tax of £1k should’ve been paid on 18/19 income
Explain min and max penalty that could be charged on the failure to notify liability for this income?
Stewart should have notified HMRC of his new source of income by 5 Oct 2019
Actions weren’t deliberate so the max penalty is 30% of PLR: 30% x £1,000 = £300
He made a prompted disclosure within 12 months, so the minimum penalty is 10% of PLR: 10% x £1,000 = £100
What taxes does the rules for keeping info apply to?
Apply to all taxes examined
But employers must keep specific records for PAYE
How long must information be kept for corporation tax?
6 years from the end of the acc period
How long must information be kept for income tax and CGT for business records?
5 years from 31 Jan following the tax year
How long must information be kept for income tax and CGT for personal records?
1 year from 31 Jan following year
How long must information be kept for VAT?
6 years