Letter from Inland Revenue
Discussion
Background: I am employed by a couple of places and also self employed and as such fill in tax return every year. Have been doing so for the last 10 years. I am a bright boy and I'm pretty good with numbers. I do them to the best of my ability. I've never used an accountant for a couple of reasons - firstly because I have been advised to use one who knows how things work for musicians, and there seem to be very few recommended ones around who don;t have full books - and secondly because by the time I've got my books into the sort of shape that an accountant will want to see, all the work is done and it's just a case of taking a couple of numbers off and putting into a tax return.
Anyway, got a letter a week or so ago from the IR.
The gist is:
Really annoys me. I'm not trying to fiddle anything, so why the veiled threats?
Presumably they think my expenses are too high in relation to my earnings?
Anyway, got a letter a week or so ago from the IR.
The gist is:
IR said:
We sent you a tax return for 2008.
We like to check them. Sometimes we make further enquiries. When we do people usually end up paying more (understated turnover, overclaimed expenses). We charge interest & penalties on top and go over your stuff in great detail.
If you get your return wrong this could happen to you
This is not an enquiry but a request to take care on the S-E bits of your tax return.
&c &c
So whay have I got this? Do they not believe me? Is there something I've put down that's suspicious? Do they think I'm not earning enough? Or earning too much? If they think I'm lying why don't they come and check me out? Or is this a shot across the bows?We like to check them. Sometimes we make further enquiries. When we do people usually end up paying more (understated turnover, overclaimed expenses). We charge interest & penalties on top and go over your stuff in great detail.
If you get your return wrong this could happen to you
This is not an enquiry but a request to take care on the S-E bits of your tax return.
&c &c
Really annoys me. I'm not trying to fiddle anything, so why the veiled threats?
Presumably they think my expenses are too high in relation to my earnings?
From the horse's mouth....
You have recieved that letter because of one many reasons - below listed are the most likely:
1. When completing your form, you have put a figure in the wrong box
2. You may have carried an incorrect figure forward throughout all or part of the self-employment pages - for example: you may have totalled a figure wrong - such as expenses
3. It could be a mathmatical error throughout the self-employment section
Obviosuly that list is not exhaustive.
Receiving that letter does not mean that the IR think you are on the fiddle, more that you perhaps need to check, double check, and then check again before submitting.
If you have any doubts as to what goes into what part of the form, contact IR for advice BEFORE submitting the form.
Hope that helps!
To be fair, I received a letter like that a couple of years ago, and I can 100% state that my form was whiter than white
Have never had an enquiry of any description carried out on me.
You have recieved that letter because of one many reasons - below listed are the most likely:
1. When completing your form, you have put a figure in the wrong box
2. You may have carried an incorrect figure forward throughout all or part of the self-employment pages - for example: you may have totalled a figure wrong - such as expenses
3. It could be a mathmatical error throughout the self-employment section
Obviosuly that list is not exhaustive.
Receiving that letter does not mean that the IR think you are on the fiddle, more that you perhaps need to check, double check, and then check again before submitting.
If you have any doubts as to what goes into what part of the form, contact IR for advice BEFORE submitting the form.
Hope that helps!
To be fair, I received a letter like that a couple of years ago, and I can 100% state that my form was whiter than white
Have never had an enquiry of any description carried out on me.
When they get you in the cross hairs.... run for the hills!
They are absolute
s and will find a way to justify their existence even if it the most petty thing you can imagine. Get it right first time and don't take the piss.
They have to justify their jobs and even if it costs them 27,345 man hours to find an underpayment or fine of £3.67, their job is justified!
S
They are absolute
s and will find a way to justify their existence even if it the most petty thing you can imagine. Get it right first time and don't take the piss.They have to justify their jobs and even if it costs them 27,345 man hours to find an underpayment or fine of £3.67, their job is justified!
SSlaav said:
When they get you in the cross hairs.... run for the hills!
They are absolutes and will find a way to justify their existence even if it the most petty thing you can imagine. Get it right first time and don't take the piss.
They have to justify their jobs and even if it costs them 27,345 man hours to find an underpayment or fine of £3.67, their job is justified!
S
I totally agree, have been in their cross hairs on one occasion, went on for three years it was a total nightmare.They are absolute
s and will find a way to justify their existence even if it the most petty thing you can imagine. Get it right first time and don't take the piss.They have to justify their jobs and even if it costs them 27,345 man hours to find an underpayment or fine of £3.67, their job is justified!
SNiceCupOfTea said:
Anyway, got a letter a week or so ago from the IR.
Relax. Judging by the different people with wildly varying circumstances that have told me they've had one of these, I'd not worry if I were you. Their computer probably has some hugely complex algorithm which decides who to send one to and of course gets it entirely wrong!
NiceCupOfTea said:
Background: I am employed by a couple of places and also self employed and as such fill in tax return every year. Have been doing so for the last 10 years. I am a bright boy and I'm pretty good with numbers. I do them to the best of my ability. I've never used an accountant for a couple of reasons - firstly because I have been advised to use one who knows how things work for musicians, and there seem to be very few recommended ones around who don;t have full books - and secondly because by the time I've got my books into the sort of shape that an accountant will want to see, all the work is done and it's just a case of taking a couple of numbers off and putting into a tax return.
Anyway, got a letter a week or so ago from the IR.
The gist is:
Really annoys me. I'm not trying to fiddle anything, so why the veiled threats?
Presumably they think my expenses are too high in relation to my earnings?
Had the same thing recently. To be fair they found a problem with relief claimed on expenses. Sent me a very nice letter saying stump up and you're clear. So I stumped up.Anyway, got a letter a week or so ago from the IR.
The gist is:
IR said:
We sent you a tax return for 2008.
We like to check them. Sometimes we make further enquiries. When we do people usually end up paying more (understated turnover, overclaimed expenses). We charge interest & penalties on top and go over your stuff in great detail.
If you get your return wrong this could happen to you
This is not an enquiry but a request to take care on the S-E bits of your tax return.
&c &c
So whay have I got this? Do they not believe me? Is there something I've put down that's suspicious? Do they think I'm not earning enough? Or earning too much? If they think I'm lying why don't they come and check me out? Or is this a shot across the bows?We like to check them. Sometimes we make further enquiries. When we do people usually end up paying more (understated turnover, overclaimed expenses). We charge interest & penalties on top and go over your stuff in great detail.
If you get your return wrong this could happen to you
This is not an enquiry but a request to take care on the S-E bits of your tax return.
&c &c
Really annoys me. I'm not trying to fiddle anything, so why the veiled threats?
Presumably they think my expenses are too high in relation to my earnings?
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