Offshore Disclocure

**Bluebird** · 14 June 2007, 11:35

Originally posted by Boots23

Hi,

I recently received a letter from my bank in the Isle of Man saying they had supplied my details as someone resident in the UK with an offshore account to HMRC. I left the UK several years ago, and have not been resident for some time - the account was dormant with less than 100 punds in it.

My question is this - should i wait to see if i am contacted by HMRC regarding this, or contact them to tell them i am no longer resident in the UK? I'm concerned that they may hit me with penalties etc even though i am no longer resident and have nothing in the account.

Thanks

HMRC are currently sending letters out, if you hear nothing in the next few weeks - you're safe - sounds like you're safe anyway.

**DimPrawn** · 14 June 2007, 11:39

Originally posted by Boots23

Hi,

I recently received a letter from my bank in the Isle of Man saying they had supplied my details as someone resident in the UK with an offshore account to HMRC. I left the UK several years ago, and have not been resident for some time - the account was dormant with less than 100 punds in it.

My question is this - should i wait to see if i am contacted by HMRC regarding this, or contact them to tell them i am no longer resident in the UK? I'm concerned that they may hit me with penalties etc even though i am no longer resident and have nothing in the account.

Thanks

you did fill in a P85 form telling the HMRC you left?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/p85_p85s.htm

**Paddy** · 14 June 2007, 11:41

Originally posted by Boots23

Hi,

I recently received a letter from my bank in the Isle of Man saying they had supplied my details as someone resident in the UK with an offshore account to HMRC. I left the UK several years ago, and have not been resident for some time - the account was dormant with less than 100 punds in it.

My question is this - should i wait to see if i am contacted by HMRC regarding this, or contact them to tell them i am no longer resident in the UK? I'm concerned that they may hit me with penalties etc even though i am no longer resident and have nothing in the account.

Thanks

The IOM has a Data Protection Act. You need to write to the bank and ask them under the data Protection Act to amend the errors on their data, that will include retracting the information sent to HMRC.

**Boots23** · 14 June 2007, 11:48

No, no P85 was filled in - is that a problem? Is it worth filling in now, or should i just leave it? The only way they can send me a letter is if my bank gave a current address & that is outside the EU. Am just worried about the whole Offshore Disclosure and getting caught up in an investigation with HMRC and with the way they are being at present, their intransigence worries me!

**Boots23** · 14 June 2007, 11:49

Thanks Paddy - and would the Bank have to contact HMRC and tell them they were incorrect? Or is it going to be too late now that HMRC are sending out letters?

**Cowboy Bob** · 14 June 2007, 11:57

Originally posted by Boots23

No, no P85 was filled in - is that a problem? Is it worth filling in now, or should i just leave it? The only way they can send me a letter is if my bank gave a current address & that is outside the EU. Am just worried about the whole Offshore Disclosure and getting caught up in an investigation with HMRC and with the way they are being at present, their intransigence worries me!

If you didn't fill it in, then you are probably still officially UK tax resident, which means that HMRC are going to regard everything you hold in any non-UK bank account as "offshore". I'd get specialist advice on this as I don't know if you can just fill in the form now or not.

**Boots23** · 14 June 2007, 12:09

Hmmm, that bothers me even more Cowboy. Surely if i have been away for several years i would automatically come under the local country's residency. Also i am not a UK citizen either - am Australian. I also filled in an Australian tax return last year.

**rootsnall** · 14 June 2007, 12:18

Originally posted by Boots23

Hi,

I recently received a letter from my bank in the Isle of Man saying they had supplied my details as someone resident in the UK with an offshore account to HMRC. I left the UK several years ago, and have not been resident for some time - the account was dormant with less than 100 punds in it.

My question is this - should i wait to see if i am contacted by HMRC regarding this, or contact them to tell them i am no longer resident in the UK? I'm concerned that they may hit me with penalties etc even though i am no longer resident and have nothing in the account.

Thanks

If you don't owe them anything, or it really is peanuts we are talking about ( come on now, be honest !? ) then I'd just contact them and get it cleared up. You can ring the Offshore Disclosure Facility helpline without giving your name, so I suggest you ask them. I don't think the P85 will be an issue but until you let them know what's going on then they may pick up the fact you haven't filled in a self assesment for the past few years. They'll also not know that you only had 100 quid in there unless you tell them.

**rootsnall** · 14 June 2007, 12:21

Originally posted by Boots23

Hmmm, that bothers me even more Cowboy. Surely if i have been away for several years i would automatically come under the local country's residency. Also i am not a UK citizen either - am Australian. I also filled in an Australian tax return last year.

If you haven't been in the UK for over a full tax year then you won't be tax resident here.

Offshore Disclocure