Should I still bother

[gengis]

Hi,
I dont know if I am in the right place or not but I have an outstanding dispute with the tax dept.regarding a reclaiming of tax credits.
It dates back to around 1990 to 1993. I was working in London as a self employed contractor and had to produce receipts from a book issued to me by the tax dept.
I had an accountant who did my returns and I recieved some rebates ( total About 5 000 pounds) on payments I had made, later after I had left the UK (went to South Africa) the tax department contacted me claiming that they had overpaid me and I owed these rebates back.
After some correspondence I recieved a final letter from them saying I should pay the money at my earliest convenience.
That was the last I heard of them.
My problem is I dont know what the implications of having this thing hanging over me are. Especially if I was to return to the UK
If I contact them will they still want the money and is it likely they will want interest on it?
I would appreciate any advice you may have
Thanks

[Conniff]

Are you just refering to 'tax' in the generic term ie is it income tax or national insurance. If it is national insurance they probably will not chase you for it, but it will hit you square in the face when you retire.

[Joa]

I don't think this is about "tax credits" as they were not introduced till 2004. I think OP is referring to income tax.
I am sorry, I wish I could help but this is entirely outside my knowledge.

[Goldlady]

I don't think that the debt will have gone away - and I doubt if it would be statute barred. If you have some doubts about whether you do actually owe this money or can prove that it was refunded due to some sort of 'official error' you might be able to fight it. And yes they will probably want interest:o

I was taken to court by the Inland revenue for outstanding PAYE on a partnership and got a CCJ - I am paying them back at £30 a month. I doubt you will be arrested the moment you set foot in this country but do think that as soon as you start working in whatever capacity that you will be hearing from them.

[gengis]

Hi thanks for the replies
It was income tax, they sent me rebates over about three years and then after I had left they asked for a similiar amount back.
The thing is that because of various difficulties ie: I disputed it and that foreign currency controls in South Africa prevented me actually sending them the money they seemed to give up and wrote saying the money should be paid as soon as it was "convenient "
No more letters or demands were sent no threat of legal action, no mention of pay by this date or else they charge interest.
So if I contacted them and said that it may be convenient for me now I wonder if they would say I havent done as they told me ?
I have read that there is no statute barring on taxes.
I think my problem really was that the accountant I had at the time was a crook, he ripped me off and left me with this tax situation.
Also if I was turning myself in so to speak do you think it would make any difference to my case ?

[Goldlady]

Hi gengis, I would think if you contacted them it would look better. There again in the unlikely event that they have written it off it would be a shameYou say you disputed the amount - is it possible that someone could help you prove you were right after all this time?

[gengis]

Hi Goldlady
It would be a shame thats for sure,
I suppose a tax specialist could sort something out to put my case better than I did at the time.
I could try to contact the tax authorities anonomously but I dont know how that would work ?

[Goldlady]

I don't think you can 'do' anonymous. But if you are so sure that it was all wrong and you still have records from back then it might be worth getting some advice rather than repaying it plus interest when you are not sure that you really do owe it.

[Conniff]

Your NI number will be flagged on their system, and the next time you pay any taxes, it will bring up the arrears (assuming that they have not written it off).
If you are in a financial position to pay gengis then it would be prudent to drop them a line as interest can, not will, be accrued.
They do not ask that you pay the full amount in a lump sum if you are liable, but will come to an arrangement.

As much as we hate taxes, the people who work in the offices also pay taxes and hate them just as much. I have always found the tax office clerk to be very sensible and forthcoming with information that can help you save.