COM10106 - Appeals: handling appeals and postponements: flat-rate penalty determination appeals - decision maker (Action Guide)

This Action Guide for Decision Makers supplements the ‘Penalty Determinations - Appeals’ Action Guide in this section.

When dealing with appeals against flat-rate late-filing penalties consider the initial action at steps 1 - 4 below and as appropriate steps 5 - 16. The guide is presented as follows.


Initial action Steps 1 - 4
Grounds for appeal correspond with those in subject ‘Reasonable Excuse’ Step 5
Grounds for appeal resemble those in subject ‘Reasonable Excuse’ Step 6
Grounds for appeal are clearly unacceptable Steps 7 - 10
(This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000) Step 11
The return has not been filed but there is no reasonable excuse Step 12
The return has not been filed and the reasonable excuse is continuing Step 13
The return has not been filed and the reasonable excuse has ended Step 14
The company fails to respond to your enquiries Step 15
Late appeals Step 16

Initial action

1. Is the appeal valid, in writing and within the time limit? See the Appeals, Reviews and Tribunals Guidance (ARTG) Manual at ARTG2120 onwards
2. Has the company notified their appeal to the Tribunal? If so, follow the guidance at ARTG2210 and ARTG8230. Immediately arrange for the relevant papers to be sent to the Business Review Unit in accordance with your local arrangements
3. Has the company asked for a review at the same time as the initial appeal to HMRC? If so, follow the guidance at ARTG2210. You must explain what our view is - the review time limit begins as soon as you have done that. Pass the relevant papers immediately to the Business Review Unit
4. Consider the grounds for appeal against the reasonable excuses described in subject ‘Reasonable Excuse’ in the ‘penalties’ business area (and at ARTG2250)
  Where the grounds for appeal
 
  • Correspond with or are very similar to those in that subject go to step 5
 
  • Resemble one of the reasonable excuses in that subject go to step 6
 
  • Seem to be valid but do not appear in that subject go to step 11
 
  • Do not fit the reasonable excuse criteria and you wish to resist the appeal go to step 7
 
  • If the return has not been filed, consider steps 12 - 15

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Grounds for appeal correspond with those in subject ‘Reasonable Excuse’

5. Unless there are grounds for suspecting the excuse to be false, allow the appeal
 
  • Use Function PPEN (Prepare Penalty Determination) to reduce the penalty to nil
 
  • Issue a letter to the company confirming your decision
 
  • Use Function NOTE (Case Notes) to record the grounds for appeal, the actions taken and location of the papers

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Grounds for appeal resemble those in subject ‘Reasonable Excuse’

6. Consider the appeal carefully. If necessary ask the company for more information or evidence. If after that
 
  • There is no doubt that the appeal should be allowed follow action in step 5
 
  • You have reached a clear conclusion that the appeal should be resisted follow action in steps 7 - 10
 
  • You have any remaining doubts about whether or not the appeal should be allowed follow action in step 11
 
  • If the company fails to provide further information requested, the appeal should be resisted. Follow steps 7 - 10

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Grounds for appeal are clearly unacceptable

7. Issue a Decision Maker’s refusal letter SA633 (available on SEES) to the company, with a copy to the agent if applicable, setting out the reasons why you are unable to accept the company’s ‘reasonable excuse’ and suggest that the company reconsider the matter. This letter offers a review and advises the options available to the company.
  Note: The SA633 letter must be sent to the company, with a copy to the agent, even if the appeal was made by the agent on behalf of their clients
 
  • Where the return is still outstanding ask the company to deliver it
 
  • Use Function NOTE (Case Notes) to record the actions taken and location of the papers
 
  • B/F for 45 days
8. If the company accepts the decision and withdraws the appeal
 
  • Use Function HAPP (Handle Appeal) to change the appeal status to ‘Withdrawn’. Doing that will release any stood over penalty charged but currently unpaid for pursuit
 
  • Use Function NOTE (Case Notes) to record the actions taken and location of the papers
 
  • Write to the company determining the appeal under S54 TMA 1970
9. If the company accepts the offer of a review and a request for a review is received in the local office. On the day of receipt
 
  • Acknowledge receipt and
 
  • Immediately forward all papers / file to the Business Review Unit
 
  • Use Function NOTE (Case Notes) to record the actions taken
10. If there is no response in the local office after 45 days
 
  • Check Function NOTE to see if a request for an internal review has been sent to the Business Review Unit
 

If so
 
  • Take no further action regarding the penalty
 
  • Ensure that the papers or file have been requested by the Business Review Unit and have been sent. If not sent, send the papers directly with a covering note
 

If not
 
  • Issue letter SA 635 (Decision Makers deemed determination of appeal) to the company
 
  • Use Function HAPP (Handle Appeal) to change the appeal status to ‘By determination’. Doing that will release any stood over penalty charged but currently unpaid for pursuit
 
  • Use Function NOTE (Case Notes) to record the actions taken and location of the papers
(This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

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The return has not been filed but there is no reasonable excuse

12. Follow steps 7 - 10

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The return has not been filed and the reasonable excuse is continuing

  Note: Where the grounds for appeal are clearly unacceptable go to step 7 otherwise proceed as below
13. If the reasonable excuse is still continuing
 
  • Advise the company that you cannot fully consider the appeal until the return is delivered
 
  • Explain that any reasonable excuse must have existed from the filing date to the day before the return is received
 
  • Contact the company again after 30 days to determine if and when the reasonable excuse has come to an end
 
  • Repeat the procedure as necessary
  If the company fails to respond
 
  • Follow step 15

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The return has not been filed and the reasonable excuse has ended

  Note: Where the grounds for appeal are clearly unacceptable go to step 7, otherwise proceed as below
14. If the reasonable excuse has come to an end
 
  • Allow the company 14 days to send in the return
  If the company still does not send in the return
 
  • Ask the company to withdraw the appeal and to send in the return
  If the company
 
  • Does not withdraw the appeal or does not reply
 
    • Follow step 15

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The company fails to respond to your enquiries

15. If the company fails to provide further information to show that the reasonable excuse is continuing
 
  • Go to steps 7 - 10 and resist the appeal
 
  • Consider what other action can be taken to obtain the return, for example a further letter, telephone call or asking the Recovery office to make a personal call

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Late appeals

16. If the company writes to HMRC asking for their appeal to be accepted out of time
 
  • Write to the company accepting the appeal outside the 30 day time limit if you are satisfied that
 
    • There was a reasonable excuse (ARTG2250) for not appealing within the time limit
 
And
 
    • The company appealed without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased
 
  • If you do not accept the company’s late appeal
 
    • Write to the company explaining why and telling them that if they want to take matters further they should apply to the Tribunal (Word 34KB) to consider their request (ARTG8240)

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