HMRC not receiving registered post?

[LdnShtr]

I'm currently having a problem with HMRC not receiving letters relating to tax self assessment. I have sent 3 letters to them 1st class signed for because they include tax paperwork and I wanted to ensure they arrived.

Two were sent to BX9 1AS. The first was sent on 17th March, the second on 14th April. Another was sent to their complaints department to BX9 1AB on 20th April. As yet none are showing as being received by HMRC using Royal Mail's website.

Do any of the accountants here run into this? Is there a geographical address I can use to communicate with them rather than the BX addresses?

Thanks in advance.

[LdnShtr]

Simpo Two said:

Ah well then there would be proof that the letter had been received, and then any subsequent fk up would be their fault. This way, there isn't proof so they can fine you £100.

This is exactly what I've discovered! Having not had much luck on the phone in the past I thought my best bet would be to only communicate by registered post but that's only any good if they actually accept it. Surely most people send in their self assessment paperwork by registered post.

[LdnShtr]

I'm fairly sure it's not possible to send self assessment paperwork by on-line filing. My comment was intended to refer to those filing paper returns only. Sorry to have caused confusion.

I've used the address given on the tax return forms and the complaints address I found online but as of right now still nothing has arrived. If they were undeliverable then the Royal Mail would have returned them to the return address I put on the envelopes, ie me, wouldn't they? Could that mean they may have been received by HMRC but they haven't signed for them somehow?

You mention sending letters to HMRC using "Guaranteed Next Day Delivery" with a "Proof of Postage" obtained from your Post Office Eric. How does this differ from the 3 proofs of postage I already have from sending them "1st Class Signed For" as per my first post? Is it because to contents of the envelope is listed as part of the "Guaranteed Next Day Delivery" service?

In terms of addresses I have found two that I think might be worth trying.

The first is from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-rev...

HM Revenue and Customs - Self Assessment
PO Box 4000
Cardiff
CF14 8HR

The second is the address for payment by cheque of the £100 penalty, which presumably they will be much keener to receive and therefore they might read my communications to them.

HMRC
Bradford
BD98 1YY

If I write to both of these addresses am I better sending them "Special Delivery Guaranteed" (they don't appear to offer a "Guaranteed Next Day Delivery" according to the Royal Mail website)?

All I want to do is pay tax on what I've earnt taking pictures.

[LdnShtr]

To clarify, by self assessment paperwork I had meant my SA100 and relevant additional sheets. Sorry once again for the confusion.

I am now £12.90 lighter having sent a further letter to each of the addresses above by Special Delivery Guaranteed as recommended, along with duplicates of the previous letters and forms, the SA100 and accompanying additional sheets excepted. I'm hanging on to the receipts so I'll get it back in a couple of years but it is annoying.

I have also just submitted a second "Lost, Damaged or Delayed Inland Mail Claim Form" for the second letter, sent on the 14th April, having already done the same for the initial tax return letter last week. It's form "Inland P58 May 2014" to avoid further confusion Eric.

The lady behind the counter asked why I was sending two letters to different HMRC addresses and it turned out in the morning a guy had come in and had a go at her for Royal Mail failing to deliver his tax return so it's not just me.

I'll let you know if either letter arrives tomorrow evening. I'm not holding my breath...

I get what you're saying about online applications Eric and Simpo. No doubt they're making it as difficult as possible to file correctly by paper so that everyone is forced to file online. Unfortunately I will have to persevere by paper this year since I've already started the process.

[LdnShtr]

HMRC have received one of my letters! It was the one sent yesterday to the Bradford office. The one listed as the place to send the penalty cheque to. Quelle surpise.

At least they can't claim to have not received anything now. I guess I have to wait a week or two for a response now.

[LdnShtr]

Simpo Two said:

Yes, it's annoying to be forced into doing something you don't want to do. Online schmonline eh!



(and my tax disk is still in the windscreen even though it's not required... when the internet evenutually breaks we'll be the ones laughing, oh yes...)

I just prefer to sit down away from the computer and go through everything and fill out paper forms. I much prefer paper for "official" communications. It allows me to go through everything to double check I have got everything correct, all in one place, before submitting everything. I can take copies of everything too so I can demonstrate exactly what I submitted. This proved useful as I've already sent HMRC one exact duplicate as it is. Besides, as a fellow photographer I'm sure you know what I mean when I say I spend enough time in front of the computer as it is!