Information commissioners office letter, legit?

[wolfracesonic]

Just had a letter from them, been on ico.org.uk/fee, the associated website and it seems legitimate, just wanted to check. I’m a Ltd company and do keep a few customers addresses on my pc. What is the fee for btw and what is done with the money?

[Ean218]

wolfracesonic said:

Just had a letter from them, been on ico.org.uk/fee, the associated website and it seems legitimate, just wanted to check. I’m a Ltd company and do keep a few customers addresses on my pc. What is the fee for btw and what is done with the money?

If that's all you do there is no fee to pay as you do not need to register as you are exempt. This mob seem to be taking lessons from the BBC licence nazis.

ICO said:

"Every organisation or sole trader who processes personal information needs to pay a data protection fee to the ICO, unless they are exempt."

Further down their page is a link to the self assessment to see whether you are exempt. Most small limited companies are.

[wolfracesonic]

Cheers, so it is a scam, just a Government run one

[Eric Mc]

In what way are small companies limited from Self Assessment?

ALL limited companies are liable to submit Corporation Tax returns together with associated accounts and computations. The way Corporation Tax is levied these days is classified as "Self Assessment" as the company works out and notifies HMRC what its Corporation Tax liability is going to be.

It is a different version of Self Assessment compared to the version that individuals carry out for personal tax purposes, but it is a form of Self Assessment.

If a company has ceased trading or is dormant, it can apply to HMRC to be exempted from having to submit a tax return - but it is not an automatic exemption.

[wolfracesonic]

I think Ean218 was referring to the self assessment procedure to see if you have to comply with this data protection racket thing and not tax self assessment, Eric.

[Davel]

We have cctv on site so £40 wasted

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

In what way are small companies limited from Self Assessment?

Too much brandy I think Eric! He means assessing yourself to see if you have to pay the ICO for, er, not sure what really. 'Data Protection Fee' WTF?
Sounds like bks to me.

[Eric Mc]

It's 31 January - I'm all "self assessed" out.