More Revenue faux pas

May 2007

Student Loans

It has been admitted by HMRC that they do not have access to the records of the Student Loans Company! It is therefore possible that amounts may be deducted from your salary to repay loans that are already cleared. This is especially so when your student loan is close to full repayment.

If you are approaching the final payment make sure that you notify your employer and the tax office to ensure overpayments are not made.

Email scams - a new guise!

Not really a Revenue faux pas but an issue you should be aware of especially if you use email. Bogus emails are still circulating that purport to be from H M Revenue & Customs.

Beware of any email that asks for personal information, the Revenue would not request this in an email. Emails may offer a refund of tax and request your credit card details. Beware also of emails or telephone advising you that a parcel is being held until certain duties are paid, and then requesting your credit card details.

You can get more information on these issues by visiting the Revenue web site: www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/spoofs.htm.

Late Filing Penalties self assessment returns.

In the last two weeks of January 2007 the Revenue received over one million paper tax returns for 2005-2006. The deadline you may remember is 31 January. Understandably errors are likely to be made as these returns are processed - late filing penalties may be issued in error as a result.

Can we ask clients to send us a copy if they receive such a penalty notice - we will check it out.