EM5207B - Penalties: formal assessments and determinations: discussions with the taxpayer: when to take formal action: steps to take when agreement cannot be reached

If you intend to proceed formally because you cannot reach agreement, you must

  • seek agreement from your manager to proceed formally, see EM5207a
  • issue a Warning Letter (Word 32kb) (this link opens a draft letter) explaining our view of the tax position and advising that if we do not hear from the taxpayer within 30 days, we intend to issue a partial or final closure notice and tax assessments. Where appropriate, explain in the letter that you are considering penalties with the intention of issuing both tax and penalty decisions together after the 30 day period has elapsed

Note: You may have to adapt the warning letter, so that is covers all the relevant circumstances in your enquiry

If we are taking formal action because of non-cooperation and constructive discussions resume within approximately 30 days from the date of the Warning Letter, you should continue to discuss an agreed settlement.

In practice this means that, if the person does not contact you within 15 days from the date of the Warning Letter, you must

  • seek authorisation from your Authorising Officer, who will normally be your manager, to issue penalty assessments or determinations. If determinations are required you will need to complete an AO Report Form which is available in SEES. You will also be required to create a penalty case in NPPS containing all the relevant details for Schedule 24 penalties.
  • issue a penalty explanation letter allowing 15 days for the taxpayer to reply. This should be sent with a covering letter making reference to the Warning Letter. If any penalties under FA07/Sch24, FA08/Sch41 or FA09/Sch55 are included you must explain these penalties using form NPPS1. If other penalties are included, you must explain these in the covering letter or in a separate letter.

If the person does not contact you about the NPPS1 within 15 days from the date you issue it, you must issue partial or final closure notices, revenue amendments, discovery assessments and the penalty assessments and determinations at the same time.

Appeals to HMRC

If the taxpayer intends to appeal either of the decisions, they must first appeal to HMRC within 30 days of the notice, see ARTG2210.