Making disclosures to HMRC: Guidance for CIOT members

Members may be asked by clients or potential clients to provide advice, guidance and support to enable the person or business to make a disclosure to HMRC. A disclosure is the process through which a taxpayer tells HMRC about an inaccuracy (or inaccuracies) with their tax affairs, with a view to agreeing and paying the tax, late payment interest and any penalties due to bring their UK tax position up to date.

The recently published CIOT guidance explains the different processes through which taxpayers can make disclosures to HMRC. Members should choose the disclosure service which is most appropriate for their client’s circumstances, given all the issues to be corrected and the reasons why the inaccuracies occurred.

Members are reminded that when guiding clients through making a disclosure they must comply at all times with the fundamental principle of professional competence and due care as set out in Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (see tinyurl.com/59ja5dr7).

The guidance is on the CIOT website: tinyurl.com/vvyzk6y8

Margaret Curran mcurran@ciot.org.uk