Tax surcharge appealed. Anything else I can do?

Cat_M

I apparently but accidentally filed my income tax return for rental property "late" for 2016. The problem is that I was oblivious to this until I got a letter last month. I had, at the time, checked that my payment had gone through on time and it had. I also had a revenue record to this effect. AFAIK, the tax was PAID.

SO, I rang up and said , WTF?? By a complete error on my part, I had forgotten to click on the last button that said "sign and submit" or something. BUT THEY TOOK MY MONEY!!!!

So now, I found out last month, 4 months or so later, that I filed late and have a surcharge of E400. :mad: I was told in the letter that I could appeal. naturally I rang up revenue first and a nice lady inferred yes, appeal, it's the first time you made this mistake etc etc. I sent off my appeal and guess what, it was turned down!!!

WHy, oh Why, am i getting penalised for not hitting a button yet my money was taken at the right time? Why is it not a thing that you can't SEPA the money unless all the online stuff is cleared?? Why did I receive a nice receipt thingy from revenue that the money was received and yet, they penalize me now a nasty little sum that I could do without having to pay??

Is there anything else I can do?? Is there any point in making an appt to the local tax office? I am so mad!! :mad:

thesimpsons

I would make an appointment and discuss the case. Bring documentation with u proving the payment was taken on time (bank statement maybe) and the receipt you got. Had somewhat similiar case many years ago which was only resolved after many letters and phone calls. Revenue claimed we hadnt paid a tax bill, I had all the documents to prove I had. Eventually got an apology from them. I was like a dog with a bone cos I knew I was right. They had convinced my partner we still owed the money.

Stationmaster

thesimpsons wrote: »

I would make an appointment and discuss the case. Bring documentation with u proving the payment was taken on time (bank statement maybe) and the receipt you got. Had somewhat similiar case many years ago which was only resolved after many letters and phone calls. Revenue claimed we hadnt paid a tax bill, I had all the documents to prove I had. Eventually got an apology from them. I was like a dog with a bone cos I knew I was right. They had convinced my partner we still owed the money.

I agree with this 100%.

Whilst technically, I believe you have to file and pay to avoid a surcharge, in any case I've worked on that the tax was paid on time but the return was late the surcharge was waived - keep chasing it.

wiggle16

You are not surcharged on late payment. You are surcharged for late filing, whether it is intentional or not. You can file on time and not pay for months, and may not be penalised at all. Once the return is made late, a surcharge is imposed automatically, even if you had paid months in advance. It might seem unfair, but the surcharge is on the return, not the payment. And they didn't "take" your money, you paid it.

When you appeal a surcharge, your request is sent to the district inspector, who examines it. If it was your first time appealing a surcharge, the inspector likely had a reason to refuse it - first time surcharges are usually waived where a person's tax record is otherwise good. I am not accusing you of anything by the way, at all, only saying that the decision is not arbitrary.

You can chase it of course, but it is very unlikely that the decision will be reversed, in my experience.