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Tax penalties

Expert commentary and practical guidance from ICAEW related to penalties associated with failing to comply with the UK tax regime.

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Need to know

Mandatory disclosure rules and DAC 6 Practical guidance and support on tax disclosure around the world, including the UK's Mandatory Disclosure Rules and DAC 6.
Exclusive TAXguide 05/12
  • Technical release
  • 17 Feb 2015
  • PDF (351kb)
Guidance on Aggressive tax avoidance schemes – what you need to bear in mind
Professional conduct in relation to taxation (PCRT)
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 30 Oct 2023
PCRT sets out the principles and standards of behaviour that all members, affiliates and students must follow in their tax work.

Features and articles

ICAEW urges major simplification of tax penalties framework
  • Article
  • 07 May 2024
The Tax Faculty welcomes the opportunity to reform tax administration but warns of significant challenges in implementing some of the changes. Existing safeguards should be publicised further.
Government consults on options to reform tax administration
  • Article
  • 20 Feb 2024
The government has published a call for evidence on HMRC's enquiry and assessment powers, penalties, and safeguards.
1.1 million taxpayers miss self assessment filing deadline
  • Article
  • 01 Feb 2024
While a record 11.5 million self assessment tax returns were filed by 31 January, the number missing the deadline increased by 100,000.
ICAEW technical round-up: January 2024
  • Article
  • 30 Jan 2024
This month’s top stories include mandated payrolling employer-provided benefits; information around the abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance; and an explainer on how to calculate NICs for directors.
Tax news in brief 24 January 2024
  • Article
  • 23 Jan 2024
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 24 January 2024, including: time to pay arrangements; preparing for changes on moving goods from Ireland to Great Britain; HMRC research on VAT penalty reform; insolvency guidance on operating PAYE; and updates to the process for applying for probate.
New form for appealing corporation tax penalties
  • Article
  • 08 Jan 2024
HMRC has introduced an interactive form to speed up the process for corporation tax penalty appeals.
MTD ITSA announcement disappoints
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2023
The government has missed the opportunity to seriously reconsider its MTD ITSA policy. The decision on mandating MTD for the self-employed and landlords with turnover below £30,000 is to remain under review.
Tax news in brief 9 August 2023
  • Article
  • 08 Aug 2023
Highlights from the broader tax news for the week ending 9 August 2023, including: late payment interest on VAT or penalties; reporting requirements for platform operators; and SAYE bonus rates.

Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service

Eligible firms have free access to Bloomsbury Professional's comprehensive online library, comprising around 80 titles from some of the country's leading tax and accounting subject matter experts. Find out who is eligible and how you can access the Accounting and Tax Service.

Exclusive Interest and penalties
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • The TACS Partnership
  • Bloomsbury Professional Tax Guide
A chapter on the penalties which may be incurred under the current UK tax regime. Covers penalties for failure to notify, late filing, late payment, errors, and enablers of tax avoidance. The authors also discuss the interest which is chargeable on tax paid late, as well as the general anti-abuse rule (GAAR) penalty regime.
Exclusive Penalties and interest
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • Lucy Webb
  • Bloomsburys Tax Rates and Tables
Tables setting out the penalties and interest rates which may be imposed under the UK tax regime, as at 24 May 2024. Penalty amounts vary depending on context. Helpful additional commentary is included with the rates and tables.
Exclusive Assessment and VAT penalties
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • Andrew Needham
  • Value Added Tax
This chapter provides an overview of HMRC assessments and VAT penalty procedures.
Exclusive Income tax compliance
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • John Hiddleston, Azets
  • Income Tax
A full chapter providing a practical overview of compliance issues relating to income tax.
Exclusive Self-assessment penalties
  • eBook chapter
  • 2024
  • Satwaki Chanda, Steve Collings, Jacquelyn Kimber, Maria Kitt, David O'Keefe, Andrew Parkes
  • Corporation Tax
A full chapter providing practical guidance on penalties for incorrect tax returns.
Exclusive Making tax digital tracker
  • eBook
  • 2023
  • Emma Rawson
  • Making Tax Digital Tracker
The Tracker provides plain English guidance on the operation of MTD, with sections covering VAT, income tax, corporation tax and tax agents in relation to MTD. Includes information on penalties which may be imposed for non-compliance with the MTD regime, as well as the appeals process.
Exclusive Penalties
  • eBook chapter
  • 2023
  • Robert Maas
  • Guide to Taxpayers Rights and HMRC Powers
A chapter on HMRC powers in relation to tax penalties.
Exclusive Guide to taxpayers’ rights and HMRC powers
  • eBook
  • 2023
  • Robert Maas
  • Guide to Taxpayers Rights and HMRC Powers
Guide to the growing breadth of HMRC powers and the increasingly complex penalty regime for non-compliance.
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eBooks

The Library & Information Service provides a collection of eBooks as a benefit of membership. Please log in to access these titles. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Paying your tax, interest and penalties
  • eBook chapter
  • 2023
  • Telegraph Media Group
  • The Telegraph Tax Guide
A chapter aimed at individual taxpayers, setting out practical points relating to the payment of tax, interest and penalties. It includes some advice on what to do if you are unable to settle your tax bill.
Exclusive VAT administration, appeals and interest
  • eBook chapter
  • 2021
  • Malcolm James
A high level overview of the framework of VAT administration covering appeals and the interest charged on VAT recovered through the raising of an assessment.
Exclusive VAT: penalties and surcharges
  • eBook chapter
  • 2021
  • Malcolm James
Section covering the penalties for late VAT registration, unauthorised issue of tax invoices, and late, fraudulent or erroneous tax returns.
Exclusive Self-assessment enquiries, discovery assessments and investigations
  • eBook chapter
  • 2021
  • Malcolm James
Outlines the difference between HMRC enquiries under self-assessment and discovery assessments. The chapter also addresses settlements, penalties and criminal proceedings and lists the main criminal offences related to tax.
Exclusive Tax appeals and administration
  • eBook chapter
  • 2021
  • Malcolm James
This chapter introduces the UK system of self-assessment. It covers the submission of returns, notification of liability, penalties, appeals, payment of tax, record-keeping and tax claims.
Exclusive Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and collection of National Insurance contributions
  • eBook chapter
  • 2021
  • Malcolm James
This chapter explains the principles and procedures of PAYE and NICs, including the penalties for late submission of documents or payments.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

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Articles and books in the ICAEW Library collection

The collection of the ICAEW Library & Information Service includes a range of articles, books and reports on tax penalties. A selection of recent books covering this topic is set out below.
Taxpayer safeguards: rights and protections for individuals, 3rd ed.
  • Library book
  • 2024
  • K. Gordon
  • Claritax
This book explores in a practical manner the safeguards that are available for taxpayers when trouble arises with HMRC. The author covers the whole spectrum of protections – statutory, judicial, administrative, and so on.
Tax penalties: a practitioner's guide, 2nd ed.
  • Library book
  • 2019
  • G. Rowell, J. Flood
  • Sweet & Maxwell
A comprehensive guide for tax advisers and general practitioners dealing with clients who face penalties imposed by HMRC. Includes in-depth coverage of the penalty regime (including applicable criminal penalties), the tax avoidance regime, the Scottish and Welsh regimes, and the disputes and appeals regime.

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.

Representations

ICAEW REP 041/24 TAFR enquiry and assessment powers penalties and safeguards
  • Representation
  • 02 May 2024
  • PDF (273kb)
A representation dated 2 May 2024 to a consultation published by HMRC on 15 February 2024.
ICAEW REP 065/23 Construction industry scheme reform
  • Representation
  • 10 Jul 2023
  • PDF (250kb)
A representation dated 10 July 2023 to a consultation published by HMRC on 27 April 2023.
ICAEW REP 029/22 Call for evidence income tax self assessment registration for the self employed and landlords
  • Representation
  • 22 Mar 2022
  • PDF (271kb)
ICAEW’s response to HMRC’s call for evidence on Income Tax Self Assessment Registration for the Self-employed and Landlords. ICAEW does not support the suggestions for basing the notification requirement on the date an income source starts or a threshold is exceeded or reducing the period after the end of the tax year allowed for notification.
ICAEW REP 39/21 Finance (No.2) Bill 2019-21 - payment penalties
  • Representation
  • 20 Apr 2021
  • PDF (119kb)
Briefing submitted to MPs on 12 April 2021 on Finance (No.2) Bill 2019-21 published by government on 11 March 2021 on clause 113 and schedule 25 which relates to penalties for failure to pay tax.
ICAEW REP 10/21 Follower notices and penalties
  • Representation
  • 28 Jan 2021
  • PDF (144kb)
A response dated 25 January 2021 to a consultation published by HMRC on 16 December 2020.
ICAEW Rep 104/18
  • Representation
  • 03 Sep 2018
  • PDF (229kb)
Late submission penalties
ICAEW REP 29/18
  • Representation
  • 01 Mar 2018
  • PDF (327kb)
MTD - Interest harmonisation and sanctions for late payment

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