Mark McLaughlin looks at the tax and penalty implications for taxpayers who rely on advice from HMRC or another government body that turns out to be incorrect or misleading.
HMRC offers taxpayers advice or information from time to time; for example, to a single taxpayer based on their own circumstances, or to a particular category of taxpayers, or to the wider body of taxpayers. If advice is taxpayer-specific it may be given in writing, over the telephone or possibly face-to-face.
HMRC has published guidance on its website, entitled ‘How HMRC advice and information can help you ’(https://tinyurl.com/mpxxjmbj). It states that HMRC’s published information and guidance may not always give the taxpayer a definitive answer. In those circumstances, the taxpayer has the option to contact HMRC for the answer.
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