Returned returns

I have just had my second corporation tax return sent back to me because the accompanying full accounts were not signed. In previous years we have submitted unsigned accounts (and I once worked for a firm that did not submit signed accounts as a matter of policy) but have not come across this problem before.

I cannot get to the bottom of why there has been an apparent change in policy and although I challenged HMRC to tell me where the legislation says submitted accounts should be signed they have not as yet replied.

I appreciate that this problem will disappear next year when all such returns will have to be filed online.

Chris Wright Crompton Ward & Company

HMRC replied:

‘It is not our policy to send back returns where the copy of the accounts does not have a signature. The accounts that are sent to...