2,600 accelerated payment notices withdrawn in 2018

HMRC has withdrawn another 2 600 accelerated payment notices (APNs) in 2018. According to figures obtained by City law firm RPC this brings the total notices withdrawn to 8 600 of the 81 000 issued since the regime was introduced in 2014.

The firm states the high proportion of APNs being withdrawn shows that it is vital any taxpayer who receives one should seek advice before paying the tax. The only way of challenging APNs is by way of judicial review proceedings. However RPC states that there have been instances when HMRC has withdrawn a notice after these have been instigated.

Adam Craggs partner at RPC said: ‘The fact HMRC has had to withdraw more than 10% of all APNs they have issued suggests they need to exercise far greater care when exercising this power. There is a suspicion that HMRC may have commoditised the process for administrative...