A4.568H Reasonable excuse—other circumstancesFor an overview of the concept of reasonable excuse, see A4.568.Record-keeping and accounting systemsMost of the circumstances in this category relate to inaccuracy in a return or other document and whether the taxpayer has taken reasonable care (see A4.532A).If the taxpayer has difficulty in compiling the information to put in a return, that will not usually amount to a reasonable excuse for late filing or late payment; instead, they should estimate the figures as best they can and state on the face of the return that they have done so1.Loss of recordsOccasionally there will be extreme cases in which, through no fault of the taxpayer, the deficiency in the records is so serious that they cannot compile returns even on an estimated basis. Hence HMRC's officers are instructed that they2:'...should normally agree as a reasonable excuse loss of records through fire, flood or theft, although [HMRC] should be satisfied that the information for completion of the return could not be replaced in time for the [taxpayer] to complete the return by the due date.'There also may be occasions where the taxpayers' records have been seized (potentially by HMRC or the police). This may make it impossible for the taxpayer to submit an accurate return. HMRC's advice in
For an overview of the concept of reasonable excuse, see A4.568.
Most of the circumstances in this category relate to inaccuracy in a return or other document and whether the taxpayer has taken reasonable care (see A4.532A).
If the taxpayer has difficulty in compiling the information to put in a return, that will not usually amount to a reasonable excuse for late filing or late payment; instead, they should estimate the figures as best they can and state on the face of the return that they have done so1.
Occasionally there will be extreme cases in which, through no fault of the taxpayer, the deficiency in the records is so serious that they cannot compile returns even on an estimated basis. Hence HMRC's officers are instructed that they2:
'...should normally agree as a reasonable excuse loss of records through fire, flood or theft, although [HMRC] should be satisfied that the information for completion of the return could not be replaced in time for the [taxpayer] to complete the return by the due date.'
There also may be occasions where the taxpayers' records have been seized (potentially by HMRC or the police). This may make it impossible for the taxpayer to submit an accurate return. HMRC's advice in
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