Is ignorance of the change in the law for the Non-Resident Capital Gains Tax return a valid excuse for late filing the return, or can you claim reliance on an adviser, even where they are a tax expert?

This is a freeview 'At a glance' guide to Non-resident CGT return penalty appeals.

At a glance

Judges in the First Tier Tribunal have been taking differing views on this matter.

What we know:

The uncertainties

 

Case Judge Appeal allowed Reasonable excuse claimed Other factors

 

Ignorance of the law

Reliance on adviser Or, Special circumstances
Rachel McGreevy Thomas Yes Claimed and accepted  No claimed  There were special circumstances because the gain was fully exempt under PRR and the taxpayer filed a self assessment return in which she expected to be able to declare the gain
Patsy-Anne Saunders Connell Yes  Claimed and accepted    She was in Self Assessment and any person making a capital loss would normally expect to report and pay any CGT under Self Assessment
Robert Clive Welland Mosedale Penalty reduced Claimed but not accepted Not claimed: however solicitor did not mention it Penalties for 3 Returns: taxpayer unable to learn from his mistakes so penalties were reduced

David Hesketh

Jennifer Hesketh

Mosedale No Claimed but not accepted Not claimed: Solicitor did not mention it  
Alan Jackson Shepherd  Yes, in part  Claimed but not accepted  Not claimed  Penalties for 2 Returns: taxpayer unable to learn from his mistakes so penalties were reduced. Penalties were miscalculated by HMRC so reduced further
Raymond Hart Brannan Yes   Reliance on adviser  
Steven Harrop  Scott No  Not accepted  as an excuse    
Mei Chung Wong  Scott No  Not accepted  as an excuse    
John Nugent  Scott No  Not accepted as an excuse    
Timothy Cobb & Caroline Wenn  Scott  No  Not accepted as an excuse    
Eric Scowcroft Thomas Yes Yes, accepted: not well publicised by HMRC Yes: conveyancer/Solicitor did not mention it  

Alison Bradshaw

Richard Bradshaw

Thomas Yes Yes, not well publicised by HMRC

Yes: conveyancer/Solicitor did not mention it.

Agent Update 51 which HMRC had referred to was issued 5 months after the conveyancing date

 
Nigel Pitcock & Karen Pitcock Scott No No, non residents should check the law Conveyancer/Solicitor did not mention it  
Lauren Murdock Brown No  No, non residents should check the law   Para 17 cap apparently not considered
Ann Rowan-Smith Beare  Yes  Claimed and accepted:     agreed a genuine error, thought gains reported under normal SA rules
Barry Gilbert Hellier  No  Claimed not accepted as no evidence of trying to find out the law: non residents should check the law    

 

Useful guides on this topic

How to Appeal a Tax Penalty
What are the steps in making an appeal? What should your appeal cover? What does recent case law say on this topic?

Penalties: Late filing
Late returns can be subject to a mix of fixed and tax geared penalties. What penalties apply for late filing? Which penalty will apply and when? 

Grounds for Appeal: Reasonable Excuse
What is considered to be a 'reasonable excuse' when a taxpayer makes an appeal against a tax compliance failure?

Non-Resident CGT: UK residential property
Capital Gains Tax, non-residents and UK property.

Non-Resident Tax Toolkit
This toolkit covers the key UK tax issues for non-UK resident individuals holding UK assets and property and working in the UK.

Non-Resident Landlords Scheme
What is the Non-Resident Landlord scheme? How does it work? Who does it apply to?

External links

All the cases above have links through the individual write up.


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