Call from HMRC re payroll returns

JodieR

Just had a call from HMRC concerned that a client who registered as an employer in January has not made any payments or filed any returns yet. I pointed out that I'd filed a nil return for 2010/11 and the quarterly payment for the first quarter of 2011/12 isn't due yet. She then paniced me by saying that there was no record of a nil return being filed. luckliy she was nice about it and agreed to change the records to say that no return was due, but I'd sent off a batch of about 6 nil returns all together & started worrying that none of them had gone through so I phoned HMRC back and was told that there's a 3 month backlog of nil returns waiting to be processed!
Surely these call centre staff would be better employed processing the backlog rather than making these calls but hey, just a warning to others not to worry if you get a call too!

Monsoon

Thanks for the heads up. Not surprised, but what an ado about nothing! Humph.

Rachel

I have issues with PAYE at the moment for a client, and it just seems so daft and they don't seem to be able to confirm whether they have received returns or payments

jilt

I know all about HMRC's backlogs! Last year I had a client who had misquoted a reference when paying over PAYE. HMRC confirmed that it had come in but didn't know where it had gone and it took about 7 months for my query to get to the top of the queue.

They finally located it and put it to his account but despite me calling them every few weeks my client still received threatening letters saying he was overdue!

Rachel

he isn't getting letters because they have his address wrong and won't change it despite letters, my option online errors and they haven't answered the error report yet.

Glad it isn't just me, it really felt like they were going to say "computer says no" to me the other day