Thanks for the feedback guys and gals! I agree you need to keep on the right side of them and, I have no real excuses, so I picked up the phone and called the VAT helpline.
![Suicide](https://forums.contractoruk.com/core/images/smilies/extras/suicide.gif)
They were very reasonable!!
![Freaky](https://forums.contractoruk.com/core/images/smilies/extras/2.gif)
For the newbies on here (and anyone else that has an aversion to contacting authorities), this is the information I received.
- If you file late you are put on the late filing scheme.
- They will send out a "slap wrist" late filing letter each time you file late.
- Once on the scheme you are liable for a penalty for each late filing.
- The penalty starts at 2% and increases each time you are late according to a published scale.
- There is no penalty payable if they owe you money, only if you owe HMRC.
- After filing late, if you then file ontime for 4 consecutive filings then you are removed off the late filing scheme and the process starts again.
Of course, as Malvolio said - it pays never to p1ss them off in the first place. I just decided to limit the risk by coming clean!!
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