IHTM23074 - Acknowledgements: what to do with the information provided by the VOA

VOA reports no question need be raised (IHTM23145)

• you will need to consider when this needs to be notified ( IHTM23153) to the taxpayer or their agent.
• In subsequent correspondence with the taxpayer or their agent, please be careful not to say that the VOA has agreed the relevant value offered, unless, the VOA has specifically agreed ( IHTM23147) the value – following a sale, for example. (This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)A more acceptable approach is to say that ‘on the basis of the information provided, the VOA has no question to raise on the value offered’.

VOA reports that value returned cannot be accepted (IHTM23132)

• Add a review date to the file for the report according to the reviewing instructions ( IHTM23102)
• check that the VOA has made ‘first contact’ ( IHTM23227) with the parties and, if not, liase with the VOA about this.

VOA indicates that there have been sales

• The part of the acknowledgement slip concerned with sales serves two purposes, which are
• • notification that a sale has taken place – triggering the end of any instalment option ( IHTM31418) available, and
  • agreement ( IHTM23147) or acceptance of the sale price or an intermediate value in place

VOA has/has not contacted the taxpayer

• These boxes indicate whether the taxpayer is aware of the VOA’s involvement. You will need to tailor ( IHTM23153) your first response to the taxpayer after the VOA’s return of the slip in the light of this. If need be, remind the VOA to make ‘first contact’ with the parties – see above.