HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

System
System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
edited June 9 in AAT member discussion
Just thought I'd make you all aware that I have had to register a complaint about the advice I received from HMRC in answer to a query that I had regarding VAT. I won't bore you with details of the query.

The advice they gave was totally inaccurate and as a result I have registered a formal complaint against the girl I spoke to. The partner here has also recommended to speak to places like Croner for VAT/Tax advice as he has had problems in the past with inaccurate advice.

For all your information Croners details are:

Telephone: 08707 45 45 45
Scheme Ref: AAT37361
and quote your membership number.

Whatever you do DON'T RELY ON THE ADVICE FROM HMRC - they don't seem to know what they are on about.

Kind regards
Steve

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!


    Can I add something about advice on CIS?

    I had a subby who had an inspection and the inspector advised something which totally contradicted the CIS guide.

    When I queried it, he agreed and - unbelievably - admitted that if either the subby or I had another inspection, that inspector would probably over-turn the decision.

    He conceded that he was out on a limb. Great.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    It is very worrying especially as HMRC are clamping down on more or less every aspect of taxation there possibly is. The rules are complex enough without a bunch of plant pots sat in a call centre giving advice about issues they know nothing about.

    Ours is serious in that the advice I received was duly passed on to our client. I am really angry because you take what the advice centre says as good legislative advice on areas of taxation which need clarifying. The upshot is they don't know themselves.

    No wonder this country's going to rack and ruin.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    Hi

    I phoned the VAT help line once with a query and I was rather suprised that the woman on the phone just went through a copy of the VAT guide: a) we all now the VAT guide is rather basic and b) how the hell are we supposed to resolve queries if all they do is consult a book which doesn't have the answer in the first place!?!?

    In the end I posted the query here and got better feedback.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I lost convidence in ringing HMRC for advice after I received a letter from a friend at Christmas. She's been in teaching for years and is currently looking at anything to get out of it. This included going on a six week course to work from home on a revenue helpline! She passed the final "test" but wasn't offered any work. Although I'm a MAAT I would be loath to give anyone tax advise as I know I just haven't got the experience.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I was told by HMRC on Monday my client had not submitted any corp tax returns since 2003. I was confused as the company has only been trading since 2005!!!
    However if they are giving people 6 weeks training before letting them loose I am not suprised.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I think the problem with the whole HMRC "Industry" is that this country's tax and vat legislation can be extremely complicated. Sometimes issues cannot just be resolved by reading from a BIM leaflet, like NeilH says above. I think the people at the call centre need a little more training than six weeks if they are to deal with the profession and the queries they submit. Even if they don't know the answer to the query, then at least put you through to someone who does.

    Unfortunately HMRC are a law unto themselves and I don't think we will ever move things in the way that would of course be ideal.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    Always get the call reference number - then, when it transpires that the advice given was wrong, there is come-back to HMRC - also you can charge them for your time to correct their mistakes. You have to bill your client, and send the invoice to HMRC and they will pay up.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I rang Croners today for advice and quoted the scheme number. I rang the same number as you Steve, but I was told that phone number was out of date and I should have received a replacement card from the AAT.

    Has anyone else received their new card?

    Sue
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I haven't received a new one.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I haven't either.

    Michelle
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    To be honest I never got the first one. The only way I stumbled across the number in the first place was a post by Dean Shepherd. May Dean can provide further details?

    Steve
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    The alternative phone number I was given yesterday was 08708 506827. The Scheme number was still the same. But from what they said that number does not cover all areas of the helpline.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    Its not only the VAT side they can get wrong.... My husband had a tax demand a few years back saying he owed ƂĀ£600. I knew it was incorrect and dug all his payslips, tax code advices etc out. He had in fact repaid the tax within his tax code previously, so I sent a letter with all the back up documentation and guess what.....my husband got a REFUND cheque for ƂĀ£250. Never trust the tax demand until you thoroughly check it out.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    I've received my new card from the AAT today, so perhaps they've been reading the posts.

    Both the card and the letter display the old logo, so I guess there was a delay in sending them out!!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 šŸ¤– Admin šŸ¤–
    Re:HMRC VAT ADVICE SERVICE - BEWARE!!!!

    HELP!
    I registered a family member online for Flatrate VAT as a sole trader due to the new IR35 laws.
    The person I registered has then decided to become a ltd entity so I advised them to use an accountant and here is where the problems have started.
    I told them to let their accountant know that I had registered them for flatrate vat and to ask them to transfer legal entity to the ltd company. The accountant then contacted HMRC only to be told that they couldn't convert him to a Ltd company and that he had to re register for VAT. They did this and for some unknown reason he has been registered for standard vat and not flat rate.
    Does anybody know what I can advise him, as I feel that HMRC have not done their job correctly and think that they should convert this person to flat rate from the date the company was incorporated.
    My question is, would you raise this to HMRC or would this person be wasting their time?

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