BN66 - Time to fight back (Chapter 3)

[DonkeyRhubarb]

After getting threatened by the HMRC at the weekend, and because they are refusing to speak to MP (they say they are not my agent, even though they are and they've corresponded previously), I rang my local office to find out why I was being threatened with asset seizure and what was going on. In summary:

1. There is no link between the appeal and asset seizure. They could do it today if they felt like it. I need a postponement request as well. They have no need to respect the 30 days for the appeal.

2. They would possibly not be in such a rush if I had purchased a CTD. I have offset against my mortgage, but I am lucky enough to be in a position to pay a good chunk of the money if I need to. The view of the tax collector I spoke too (in fairness, a polite if not exactly best mates conversation), was that because of the the amount, a little over six figures, it would increase the onus on them to collect quickly. I am now considering a CTD, though with deep reservations.

3. They will not speak to MP (who are plugging away on my behalf, big wave and thanks )

Although I am now out of the scheme, and my accountant has never been given authority to act as my agent, the fact that MP are my agents and always have been seems to have 'disappeared'. I dont disblieve that it doesnt appear on their system, I just cannot believe that it never did. They obviously need some help with their systems. Any volunteers?

What a nightmare.

How did they know that you don't have a CTD? Did you tell them or have they been accessing information that they shouldn't have been? The whole point of a CTD is that it is not supposed to reveal your hand. It is not meant to be visible to HMRC front-line staff.

If they start getting really heavy handed then I would tell them that you are going to make a formal complaint to your Member of Parliament, who you have already been conversing with about this matter. Make sure you ask for the full names of staff you are dealing with, as this usually gets them worried.

[Emigre]

After getting threatened by the HMRC at the weekend, and because they are refusing to speak to MP (they say they are not my agent, even though they are and they've corresponded previously), I rang my local office to find out why I was being threatened with asset seizure and what was going on. In summary:

1. There is no link between the appeal and asset seizure. They could do it today if they felt like it. I need a postponement request as well. They have no need to respect the 30 days for the appeal.

2. They would possibly not be in such a rush if I had purchased a CTD. I have offset against my mortgage, but I am lucky enough to be in a position to pay a good chunk of the money if I need to. The view of the tax collector I spoke too (in fairness, a polite if not exactly best mates conversation), was that because of the the amount, a little over six figures, it would increase the onus on them to collect quickly. I am now considering a CTD, though with deep reservations.

3. They will not speak to MP (who are plugging away on my behalf, big wave and thanks )

Although I am now out of the scheme, and my accountant has never been given authority to act as my agent, the fact that MP are my agents and always have been seems to have 'disappeared'. I dont disblieve that it doesnt appear on their system, I just cannot believe that it never did. They obviously need some help with their systems. Any volunteers?

Quick edit, in case I've panicked anyone. MP apply for postponement as well as appeal. Just in case anyone is reaching for the phone.

I'm sure MP will get all this sorted for you - they're well versed in the process now.

You've set me thinking though - has anyone on this thread or anyone you know been on contract to HMRC and put their income through MP/Steed/deGraaf?

[twinkle]

MP as an HMRC Govt Gateway agent

I'm sure MP will get all this sorted for you - they're well versed in the process now.

You've set me thinking though - has anyone on this thread or anyone you know been on contract to HMRC and put their income through MP/Steed/deGraaf?

does anyone know MP's 'Government Gateway Agent ID' so i can set them up on my Gateway.

I do not want to trouble MP initially.

Thanks

[DonkeyRhubarb]

You've set me thinking though - has anyone on this thread or anyone you know been on contract to HMRC and put their income through MP/Steed/deGraaf?

I know there was in the very early days, and they happened to be contracting for the Specials Unit and were aware of the investigation. It was a right hoot knowing that there was someone in the scheme right under their very noses.

Unfortunately I can't remember who it was now.

[ContractIn]

What a nightmare.

How did they know that you don't have a CTD? Did you tell them or have they been accessing information that they shouldn't have been? The whole point of a CTD is that it is not supposed to reveal your hand. It is not meant to be visible to HMRC front-line staff.

If they start getting really heavy handed then I would tell them that you are going to make a formal complaint to your Member of Parliament, who you have already been conversing with about this matter. Make sure you ask for the full names of staff you are dealing with, as this usually gets them worried.

I have been suspecting something like this for a few weeks now as I have only received one letter from HMRC on xmas eve about my 06/07 SA and it wasn't a CN. Did the normal of sending to MTM etc

I purchased a CTD as soon as I became aware of them last year. Doesn't cover all my liability about 80%. Thinking of cashing in and spending it.

[OnYourBikeGB]

I have been suspecting something like this for a few weeks now as I have only received one letter from HMRC on xmas eve about my 06/07 SA and it wasn't a CN. Did the normal of sending to MTM etc

I purchased a CTD as soon as I became aware of them last year. Doesn't cover all my liability about 80%. Thinking of cashing in and spending it.

Nope, I asked why the rush given that I was still in the appeal process. They seemed to be operating totally independently. They will only stop when they are notified that there is a postponment. I asked why I seemed to be being treated so harshly, they said that my advisors may have reached an agreement on the liability. I told them that this was absolute nonsense, and to be fair, he was suggesting a possible reason, he wasnt saying that was the case. He said that the amount of money meant that there was a greater onus on them to collect. I asked that if I had had a CTD, would this have removed the urgency. He said that he believed it may have. Effectively he was saying, you owe us a wad, you havent proved you've got it, so we're coming to get it.

He had a brief debate about retrospective legislation, but there's no point really. At the end of the day, he's just a cog. Having said that, I got the last word.

I have never experienced anything like this before. It's verging on the surreal. So many rights are being walked over and ignored, there is something deeply, deeply wrong. Of course I knew it was aggressive tax planning. But that's not the issue. It is and always one of legality. The government seem willing to use every loophole they can find to exploit in their favour, be it second homes, nannies as employees, selling the gold reserves, raiding the pensions. Do I not have a right to protect my interests against unfair and unjust legislation? Can laws really be invalidated at a whim? It's shameful.

[OnYourBikeGB]

What a nightmare.

How did they know that you don't have a CTD? Did you tell them or have they been accessing information that they shouldn't have been? The whole point of a CTD is that it is not supposed to reveal your hand. It is not meant to be visible to HMRC front-line staff.

If they start getting really heavy handed then I would tell them that you are going to make a formal complaint to your Member of Parliament, who you have already been conversing with about this matter. Make sure you ask for the full names of staff you are dealing with, as this usually gets them worried.

Thanks DR. I have sent off one of your well-crafted responses already, updated with a paragraph about this latest episode. I've included the demand letter and a letter I sent to the my local officer telling him that I wasn't willing to be subjected to bullyboy tactics.

[lucozade]

Concerned that I hadn't heard from HMRC I contacted MP today. They advised me that Closure Notices were sent out in January 09 for the last 4 years worth. Nice of HMRC to not bother contacting me. Glad that MP received the details though and appealed them immediately. Great work

Has anybody else tried to apply for mortgages, finance, etc whilst having this "suspension" on your HMRC account? Just wondering how it will be affected.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

Not necessary to register Montp as your agent

does anyone know MP's 'Government Gateway Agent ID' so i can set them up on my Gateway.

I do not want to trouble MP initially.

Thanks

I have clarified this with MontP and it is not necessary.

MontP have already agreed with Brannigan that they will be acting as agent for the DTA scheme, irrespective of who is actually registered as your agent in HMRC's system.

However, if you want to do it anyway, then email MontP and ask for a 64-8 form.

[DonkeyRhubarb]

Petitions

Sorry this is off topic but it gave me a laugh. The No 10 website gets dozens of petitions per day.

This one from today made me howl:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/nig...cheese/#detail

If you want a good laugh, scroll down the list from the last few days:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/list/open?sort=date

It is good to see democracy at work.