Tax Investigation What To Do When You Face One

Anybody who has submitted a tax return may be inquired by (HM Revenue & Customs) HMRC investigation team about the entries submitted. But not everybody is inquired upon. While others are inquired more than five times in a decade, others are not investigated at all! Does this seem unfair? Let us see why this is so.

For a private company with above-average income taxpayers, HMRC will most likely evaluate the entries submitted in the tax return. But generally, this applies only to a small margin of the overall taxpayers. And most, if not all, are professionally defended by experts. There are also a number of investigations which are due to random picks. Every year, a small number of taxpayers are investigated as a result of random selection. So don’t fret if an envelope from HMRC reaches your door. Indeed, having a taxman investigating your fiscal and financial conditions is not a delightful event. But if you have honestly filled up your tax return documents then all shall be well.

However, most inquiries are due to an error on the data in the tax return. It may be just an honest mistake or some of the entries are incomplete. Take for example a difference in entries in your P60 and P11D Statement of Benefits. There’s a possibility that you thought you have completed the tax return without realizing you’ve done an error. Because most common than not, P11D Statement of Benefits are released earlier than the P60.

For whatever case it may be, there are important crucial points you must always remember. As mentioned above, you should not panic when you receive the letter. Don’t jump into a conclusion that you have incurred a serious error. Carefully examine what the letter is asking for. It might just be asking for a single document that you can easily prepare and send off. If it looks a bit complicated, address the issues one and one. Don’t get too overwhelmed by the thought that HMRC is investigating you.

Weigh the situation if you can handle it yourself. If there are some inquiries you are not familiar with, get aid from a professional tax advisor. Beyond the potential financial harm, the negotiations and the whole process can be very stressful. With a tax advisor, you are now backed up with knowledge on technical issues. And because they are working with HMRC almost daily, they surely know how to appeal your case where you end up with minimal financial damage or nothing at all. The best thing is the fact that they will represent you so you don’t have drag your emotions with your financial affairs.

Whatever option you choose, handling it yourself or with the aid of a professional, always remember to respond promptly with their inquiries. Never let your emotions burst out and remain as composed as possible. Nowadays, HMRC can charge a fine based on the level of your cooperation. Do everything that seems right in the eyes of the taxman even you disagree deep within. It’s the best way to make the process shorter and the damages at its minimum.