Severe Weather – Problems filing returns by 31 January – update

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Severe Weather – Problems filing returns by 31 January – update

by Tax Faculty Team on 19.01.2010 13:43 4 comments 8667 views
Topics: Personal tax, E-filing

Action taken following your comments

In view of the concerns and comments expressed following our news item Severe weather warnings, we immediately instigated a high level meeting with HMRC to ask what relief it would be prepared to give in a case where the adverse weather conditions directly prevented a tax return from being filed on time.

We see the options as

Leave things as they are
Extend the deadline
Institute a reasonable excuse procedure for filing problems caused by bad weather

We suspect that of the three options the most likely outcome is option 3 with HMRC giving a light touch on what is a reasonable excuse. HMRC has however made no decision as yet, but has informed us that it is monitoring the situation closely.

We will continue to make members' views known to HMRC.

Thank you to all of you who posted your comment or emailed us. We sent HMRC a link to our news item so the right people have seen what you think. We are also monitoring the situation closely and will keep you updated.

Please post a comment if you are still experiencing problems or would like to let us know your views.

Comments

# | by Anonymous on 20 January 2010, 15:00

Having spent up to two hours a day clearing snow and ice 3 inches thick (with a pickaxe) from our road for the last three weeks the postman still hasn't called, and only four clients have braved the conditions to visit my office. I do hope HRMC respond sympathetically!

# | by V N Luthra on 22 January 2010, 01:30

The severe weather not only delayed receiving papers/documents/informaion from clients, it also resulted people not being able to make to work and not to talk of sickness to which lot of people fell victim of. I do hope that hmrc respond constructively realising the severe weather conditions resulted in loss of working time. If they can waste money on advertising, surely the should have pragmatic approach to the late filing penalty.

# | by Alison Cutts on 22 January 2010, 14:49

I work in a rural area with agricultural clients and access for client meetings to agree and approve returns has been (and in some cases continues to be) severely hampered, leading to a backlog of meetings and some papers still undelivered.

I would really appreciate a decision from HMRC soon so that I can prioritise what can safely and realistically be done and what could be filed late and receive a sympathetic response rather than a fine.

# | by Tax Faculty Team on 29 January 2010, 17:03

Readers might like to see the latest on this. While there will not be an extension to the deadline, HMRC has updated its internal guidance to ensure that reasonable excuse can apply in bad weather cases.

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Severe Weather – Problems filing returns by 31 January – update