Penalty regime ‘not working as hoped’, says CIOT report

A CIOT survey reveals concerns among its members over the current system of penalties, compliance checks and reviews. The survey reports concerns about how suspended penalties are offered; late-filing penalties where there is no or little tax at stake, particularly where the taxpayer has overpaid tax; concerns about the proportionality of penalties more generally; and a few concerns about the attitudes of HMRC staff conducting enquiries. The survey also revealed a high level of scepticism on the usefulness of the internal statutory review process, whereas there was a much more positive experience of HMRC’s alternative dispute resolution process.