CCM8300 - Closing the Examination: Issuing the Penalty Leaflet

Where penalties are likely to be considered you must make the customer(s) aware of their rights and issue the penalty leaflet Tax Credits - Penalty decisions. You should do this at the earliest possible opportunity. The stage at which this happens will vary from case to case.

Where you are at a meeting with the customer and it is clear that section 31(1) penalties are likely to be considered, you should draw the customer’s attention to any clear errors established, the facts already obtained and a general outline of any other areas of concern. You should then tell the customer about the possibility of penalties and that they do not have to co-operate with your examination. You will need to cover the same points as in the draft letter at CCM8310, but you can say this in your own words. You should take these steps even if you have not quantified the amount of any adjustment to the tax credits. If the customer says they will not answer any questions you should tell them you can use your formal powers to obtain information required in order to establish the amount of tax credits due.

This stage will be reached where the customer has admitted an error for which a penalty is likely to be considered or the customer has denied any errors but you have presented your own findings.

You do not need to have quantified the adjustments needed to the award before you issue the Tax Credits - Penalty decisions leaflet and it is important not to delay this action. Where a meeting has been amicable it might seem unreasonable to bring up the subject of penalties, however, you must not leave the customer in a state of uncertainty if you believe penalties are likely to be considered.