Seafarer investigation

by **adramforall** on Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:25 pm

I have a seafarer friend who is currently the subject on an enquiry into his 2008 Tax Return. He meets all the relevant criteria as a seafarer, has a valid ongoing claim which started in April 2001.

I have provided HMRC with all the relevant details for 2007/2008 but they have now come back stating that if I wish to use the carry forward days to validate the claim, something that is required, I need to provide the necessary documentation to substantiate the earlier years. This is something that has not been retained so will put my friend to additional costs obtaining copies from the MCA - there is a charge of £11 per copy and we are looking 27 copies for the whole period.

Each year a self assessment claim is put in, tax repaid and no queries have been raised. However when his first claim for 2001/2002 was submitted he was investigated and after submitting the relevant documents the investigation was closed with no amendments required.

Can the taxman really request information relating to 2002/2003 to 2006/2007 when enquiring into 2007/2008, on the basis that he needs to verify the carried forward dates?

If not, what is the best way to tackle the taxman?

Many thanks

by **tom 7000** on Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:56 pm

tell them its gonna cost 300 to get info plus 300? for your time ...and isnt there something which says if the investigation finds nothing, then HMRC will refund these costs???

see what they say

by **wamstax** on Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:11 pm

I agree with maths however surely if matters were so tight it would not be unreasonable for HMRC to expect that your friend wiould have retained sufficient records to establish the position. £600 isn't a lot to get rid of the very much more severe costs that migth arise if HMRC was to discover that earlier periods were potentially in question.

can you elaborate why it is going to be necessary to go back to 2001 as surely establishing the position for the previous two years would possibly place the onus on to HMRC to "prove " why it was reasonable to conclude that they had discovered that earlier years claims were incorrectly made.