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HMRC sends out 12,000 tax fine letters in error | HMRC sends out 12,000 tax fine letters in error |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 12,000 people who did not need to fill in a self-assessment tax return have been sent out penalty notices by mistake, HMRC has admitted. | About 12,000 people who did not need to fill in a self-assessment tax return have been sent out penalty notices by mistake, HMRC has admitted. |
The 10.5 million taxpayers in self-assessment had until 2 February to file their forms, and HMRC has written to 650,000 who failed to do so to fine them £100 and warn them that from 1 May they face penalties of £10 a day. | |
However, it said among these letters were 12,000 to people who had called the taxman and been told they did not need to fill in a form, perhaps because their circumstances had changed since the previous year. | However, it said among these letters were 12,000 to people who had called the taxman and been told they did not need to fill in a form, perhaps because their circumstances had changed since the previous year. |
A spokesman for HMRC said these people would receive follow-up letters telling them there had been a mistake, but in the meantime they could put them in the bin. | A spokesman for HMRC said these people would receive follow-up letters telling them there had been a mistake, but in the meantime they could put them in the bin. |
"We are very sorry and can reassure these customers that we know who they are and that this letter is incorrect – they do not owe a penalty. We are writing to all of them to apologise and to explain this error." | "We are very sorry and can reassure these customers that we know who they are and that this letter is incorrect – they do not owe a penalty. We are writing to all of them to apologise and to explain this error." |
HMRC said that since the start of February it had removed 130,000 people from self-assessment, and that people who did not think they needed to file a return for the 2010/11 tax year could still get in touch. If it was found that they were correct, they could be removed from self-assessment and any penalties would be scrapped. | HMRC said that since the start of February it had removed 130,000 people from self-assessment, and that people who did not think they needed to file a return for the 2010/11 tax year could still get in touch. If it was found that they were correct, they could be removed from self-assessment and any penalties would be scrapped. |
The spokesman added: "It is very unfortunate that this process error has taken the shine off the good news that we have taken 130,000 people out of self-assessment." | The spokesman added: "It is very unfortunate that this process error has taken the shine off the good news that we have taken 130,000 people out of self-assessment." |
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