How Far Back

[pin00ch]

Just been charged for 2011/2012

So I have just been charged for 2011/2012.
I was PAYE in an umbrella company back then. Do I worry that the previous year, 2010/2011 will be looked into?

The whole 4 to 6 year thing is confusing.

Changed in December 2010.

Not entirely clear by what you mean with "retrospective rules"?

[pin00ch]

I take it there is no way to know if further investigations are going on?
I didn't even know about this one until I got the Discovery Assessment letter yesterday.

So I have just been charged for 2011/2012.
I was PAYE in an umbrella company back then. Do I worry that the previous year, 2010/2011 will be looked into?

The whole 4 to 6 year thing is confusing.

[pin00ch]

How do you know if you have been assessed for "careless behaviour" ?
The assessment letter I received simply says that I have been assessed since I used a Tax avoidance scheme.

Exactly.

HMRC is currently engaged in a large scale exercise to make sure that 11/12 is properly enquired into or a discovery assessment is made before 5/4/16.

Nothing is going to deflect that juggernaut.

However, people will escape from its path.

[webberg]

How do you know if you have been assessed for "careless behaviour" ?
The assessment letter I received simply says that I have been assessed since I used a Tax avoidance scheme.

Because the letter with the discovery assessment would say so.

[pin00ch]

It doesnt say that on the letter.
I guess its a just a 4 year check. I wonder if they are actively pursuing "carelessness".
I dont believe I have been careless in anyway but a valuable lesson learnt!

Because the letter with the discovery assessment would say so.

[northernladuk]

It doesnt say that on the letter.
I guess its a just a 4 year check. I wonder if they are actively pursuing "carelessness".
I dont believe I have been careless in anyway but a valuable lesson learnt!

Quote goes first and then what you wrote... Makes it hard to understand what the conversation is if you respond and then we have to read what you are commenting on.... HTH

[bluemonkey71]

It doesnt say that on the letter.
I guess its a just a 4 year check. I wonder if they are actively pursuing "carelessness".
I dont believe I have been careless in anyway but a valuable lesson learnt!

Struggling to make sense of any of your repetitive posts.

1) What years did you use them?
2) Did you get DA or COP 8 for any of them, if so when did you get them?

[webberg]

At the risk of repeating myself.

HMRC has 12 months from the return being submitted to open an enquiry.

In the event that the return is later, that period is extended to a year and a quarter.

If HMRC misses the deadline, they claim that they can issue a discovery assessment within 4 years of the year end.

If they claim that they missed the deadline because of careless return completion, that discovery period can extend to 6 years.

If they claim that the enquiry deadline is missed because of fraudulent behaviour, that discovery period can be 20 years.

Space is too limited here to discuss discovery.

If HMRC think you have been careless or negligent (deliberately or otherwise) they will raise a penalty. That is not an assessment, but a penalty for breaking the law. It will arrive with separate letters of explanation and can be contested.

[pin00ch]

SO, forgive my ignorance.. I have had no correspondence relating to "carelessness". so nothing beyond 4 years is being looked at?

I have done nothing wrong but want to know where the line is drawn. That's all.

thanks for the advise. Sorry about the repetition but laws seem to change and retrospective views seem to be allowed.

Im a little minnow, a guy that just wants to right. Forgive my ignorance. Im just panicking about loosing my home over something that I wasnt aware of.

Just to add that i'm aware that ignorance is no excuse. Im just stressed and worried.

[pin00ch]

Thanks for the advise by the way. Much appreciated.
For clarity: the letter states that it is a Discovery assesment and is based on the activities of one of the payroll companies that my umbrella co was using at the time. This dates back 4 years only. I would get that the payrol co (called Quantum) must have been investigated and now HMRC are goong after the unpaid tax.

The term "careless" hasnt been used so i would hope that this will be the end of the matter once i pay up.