HMRC reports tax returns penalty problems

Date: 24th February 2009

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reported an issue with self-assessment tax returns penalty notices.

That's according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), which claims that it was informed by the Working Together organisation of a problem regarding incorrect penalty amounts for those who filed last year.

A minor number of tax return fine notices for 2007 - 2008 are said to display the wrong amount owed, but this only applies to those who filed between November 1st and December 31st 2008 and requested underpayment to be collected through 2009 - 2010 PAYE tax code.

As reported by the CIOT, HMRC have already identified those who have been affected and are now preparing apology letters and replacement fines or notices to be sent out.

The government department reported earlier this month that close to six million people had chosen to file their self-assessment tax returns online.