The Taxman is currently writing to taxpayers who are suspected of tax fraud, asking them to make a full disclosure of their wrong-doing under the contractual disclosure facility (CDF).
If you receive a letter offering the CDF, it is a very serious matter. The Taxman has taken a view that he could launch a criminal investigation into your tax affairs, but has decided that a criminal case is not cost-effective. Instead he is offering you a binding agreement to come clean, with the promise of low penalties.
You only have 60 days to decide whether to accept the CDF. If you don't reply in that period, the Taxman will start a formal investigation into your tax affairs, which could result in a criminal case. The CDF letter will also contain a denial letter, which you can sign and return if you believe you have no involvement in tax fraud.
Before you make any response to a CDF offer, please discuss the matter with us in confidence.
Showing posts with label tax accountants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tax accountants. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Time Runs Out for Tax Claims
For as many years as we can remember individuals have had six years from the end of the tax year to claim most allowances and tax reliefs in respect of that tax year, (some tax claims have to be made within two years). That long claims period was shortened to five years from 31 January following the end of the tax year when self-assessment was introduced in 1996/97, but that change meant the loss of just two months. Now the long claims period is changing to four years from the end of the tax year with effect for claims submitted from 1 April 2010.
Thus claims and elections for the tax years 2004/05 and 2005/06 need to be made by 31 March 2010 and 5 April 2010 respectively. Such claims could include an error or mistake claim where tax has been overpaid, claims for personal allowances for marriage, age or blindness, and a number of capital gains tax reliefs.
Confusingly these new claims periods do not apply to everyone from the same date. If you have only recently come within the self assessment system, but you want to make a claim for an earlier year when you were taxed only under PAYE, you will have a further two years to make the claim. For example, claims from PAYE taxpayers for the tax year 2004/05 run out of time on 31 January 2011.
The long claims period for limited companies is also changing from six years from the end of the accounting period, to four years from the end of the accounting period, for claims submitted on and after 1 April 2010. Thus claims for accounting periods that end between 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2006 all need reach the Tax Office by 31 March 2010.
The period during which the Taxman can normally raise a tax bill for a particular tax year has also been cut back to four years from the end of that year. However, the where the extra tax is due because the taxpayer has made a careless or deliberate error, the Taxman has six years, extending to 20 years for deliberate errors, to raise the tax bill.
Thus claims and elections for the tax years 2004/05 and 2005/06 need to be made by 31 March 2010 and 5 April 2010 respectively. Such claims could include an error or mistake claim where tax has been overpaid, claims for personal allowances for marriage, age or blindness, and a number of capital gains tax reliefs.
Confusingly these new claims periods do not apply to everyone from the same date. If you have only recently come within the self assessment system, but you want to make a claim for an earlier year when you were taxed only under PAYE, you will have a further two years to make the claim. For example, claims from PAYE taxpayers for the tax year 2004/05 run out of time on 31 January 2011.
The long claims period for limited companies is also changing from six years from the end of the accounting period, to four years from the end of the accounting period, for claims submitted on and after 1 April 2010. Thus claims for accounting periods that end between 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2006 all need reach the Tax Office by 31 March 2010.
The period during which the Taxman can normally raise a tax bill for a particular tax year has also been cut back to four years from the end of that year. However, the where the extra tax is due because the taxpayer has made a careless or deliberate error, the Taxman has six years, extending to 20 years for deliberate errors, to raise the tax bill.
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