VATF45110 - Basic interventions: matters to consider when determining whether to use a civil intervention: assessments and penalties: introduction

Assessments

If a trader or HMRC discovers an error on a VAT return that has been submitted there are legal powers and procedures that allow the return to be corrected.

Guidance on how and when to raise assessments can be found in:

• the VAT Assessment and Error Correction manual; and
• CH50000 of the Compliance Handbook.

If you require further assistance on assessment and error correction you should email the Tax Administration Litigation and Advice (TALA) team .

Penalties

HMRC’s penalties regimes:

• support taxable persons to get things right first time,
• provide a deterrent to non-compliance by penalising non-compliers, and
• encourages the non-compliant to return voluntarily to compliance.

When considering whether to impose a penalty you should read the following:

• Compliance Handbook;
• VAT Civil Penalties guidance manual; and
• VAT Default Interest manual.

(This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)VATF84000(This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

The issuing of penalties in relation to the application of the Kittel principle (VATF50000) is dealt with in VATF45131.

If you require further assistance on penalty issues:

For technical queries	For operational queries
Email the Tax Administration Litigation and Advice team TALA	Refer to the Process guides