ECH21139 - Penalties: Raising Formal Penalty Determinations - Penalties of a Maximum Set Amount or Maximum of a Difference between Amounts


ECH21136 explains the initial action to be taken on all cases when raising formal penalty determinations.

Wherever possible penalties for failure to submit a return should be included in a contract settlement.

When proceeding to raise formal penalty determinations for a penalty that is a maximum of either a set amount or a maximum of the difference between amounts the penalty must be authorised by the Authorising Officer but the penalty itself is determined by a local Grade 6.

Once an appropriate amount of penalty has been calculated the caseworker will

The Authorising Officer will

  • consider the information provided
  • authorise the penalty (if appropriate) and
  • return the papers.

The caseworker will then

  • pass the papers to the local Grade 6 if they were not sent direct by the Authorising Officer.

The local Grade 6 will

  • consider the information provided
  • determine the penalty (if appropriate)
  • sign the 394 and
  • refer the papers back to the caseworker.

The caseworker will

The SAFE officer will

  • create a charge on SAFE and
  • return the documents to the caseworker along with a payslip.

The caseworker will then

  • issue the 394, letter, payslip and an appeals note to the employer/contractor/subcontractor and
  • BF the case for 30 days

If the employer/contractor/subcontractor appeals against any penalty determinations the caseworker should follow the guidance at ECH21260.