Appealing an HMRC decision ― outline

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by Tolley and written by Anne Redston
Personal Tax
Guidance

Appealing an HMRC decision ― outline

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by Tolley and written by Anne Redston
Personal Tax
Guidance
imgtext

Anne is a barrister who sits as a judge of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) and the First-tier Tax Tribunal. The commentary in this guidance note is her personal view as she is not authorised to write on behalf of the Tribunals Service or the judiciary.

Introduction

This note outlines the procedure for appealing against a decision made by HMRC. It links to further notes which explain each stage of the procedure. See also the Flowchart ― appeal process at a glance ― direct taxes and Flowchart ― appeal process at a glance ― VAT which visually summarise the process.

Note that the Government has proposed an alignment of the processes for appealing direct taxes and VAT decisions. For more details, see the Tax Administration Framework Review: Improving HMRC’s approach to dispute resolution (Apr 2025).

This guidance note and the further notes on appealing to the Tribunal are only a summary; they do not cover all situations. You may need to take further advice in relation to the taxpayer’s appeal position.

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Anne Redston
Anne Redston

Barrister

Anne Redston is a barrister and consultant editor of Tolley's Yellow Tax Handbook. She is also a judge of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), the First-tier Tax Tribunal and the Social Entitlement Tribunal. She is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, and a Fellow of both Institutes.   

Read moreRead more
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 07 Aug 2025 13:10

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Personal Tax / Enquiries, penalties and appeals

Popular Articles

Owner-Managed Businesses

Allowable expenses for property businesses

Allowable expenses for property businessesGeneral itemsMany of the principles applying to allowable expenses for property businesses are similar to those that apply for trading and the rules for individuals in a property business are generally the same as for companies with some exceptions which are

14 Jul 2020 13:26 | Produced by Tolley in association with Rob Durrant-Walker of Crane Dale Tax, part of AMS Group Read more Read more
tag-icon Tax Returns
Corporation Tax

FRS 102 ― tax presentation and disclosures

FRS 102 ― tax presentation and disclosuresPresentation of tax under FRS 102An entity must present changes in a current tax liability (or asset) and changes in a deferred tax liability (or asset) as a tax expense (or income) unless the item creating the current or deferred tax amount is recognised in

14 Jul 2020 11:46 | Produced by Tolley in association with Steve Collings Read more Read more
Corporation Tax

Qualifying charitable donations

Qualifying charitable donationsCompanies can obtain corporation tax relief for qualifying payments or certain transfers of assets to charity under the qualifying charitable donations regime. Definition of qualifying charitable donationThe definition of ‘qualifying charitable donations’

14 Jul 2020 13:03 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more