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17 Aug 2009
HM Revenue & Customs is taking too long to process tax refunds, a group which represents hundreds of accountants has warned.
The Independent Certified Practicing Accountants group, which represents 600 accountants, claims refunds which should take days to get through, are taking months, The Mail on Sunday reported.
Tony Margaritelli, ICPA chairman, said refunds are taking an interminable time and accountants are unimpressed by the excuses.
`Most galling is the fact that the revenue has been encouraging accountants to file self-assessment for clients because refunds are automated and should therefore come through within days,' he said.
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Briefings
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Visitor comments Add your comment
Refunds take too long
I applied on line for a refund on 22 July of over £40,000 on a self assessment online return and still have not received it despite chasing .Last Thursday I was told that the online refund requests were subject to manual review and there was a back log
Posted by: bruce Armstrong, 17 Aug 2009 | 00:00
Zero interest / long repayment period
I have a client that was owed over £3.3k as overpaid tax.
I made two on-line requests, actioned in Nov 08 and Feb 09 both were confirmed as actioned by the HMRC system but neither achieved a refund. Finally rang HMRC March 09 requesting manual refund, no explaination was given or available for the on-line failure. Eventually repaid June 09 but as no interest was paid for the period Jan 09 to June 09 they had the use of the money for free. If my client was late in paying Tax due on account or a balancing payment due then interest would start to accumulate from the final day the money was due to be paid. eg 31.01.09 or 31.07.09
It appears that different rules apply to the Taxpayer from that of HMRC when refunds / payments are due. Definitely not acceptable.
Posted by: Mr T A Knight FCCA, 17 Aug 2009 | 00:00
It's not all bad but some is!
I have to say that in general, tax refunds are processed reasonably quickly.
What I do find galling is that not all refunds are made automatically.
When refunds do not arrive, on going to the HMRC website, I have found on many occasions that my FBI request for the refund has been totally ignored.
To see a credit balance against the client with a note stating that I can claim a refund if I want is so annoying and frustrating. I then have to re-enter my client's bank details and force a refund.
Of course, this takes additional time and effort. Quite apart from the fact that HMRC have been 'unjustly enriched', who exactly pays for my time? I can hardly bill the client, it's not his fault.
Posted by: Simon Paskin FFA, 27 Oct 2009 | 00:00