Readers’ forum: Overstated car benefit

A couple of my individual clients have received ‘nudge’ letters from HMRC saying that there is a discrepancy between the benefits information on their tax returns and the benefits information provided by their employer. I reviewed the PIIDs provided by the employer when preparing their returns and concluded that they were incorrect as the car benefit had been overstated (the wrong CO2 emissions figure had been used – I don’t act for the company). The clients made a white space disclosure on their returns explaining this. I advised them to tell their employer about the mistake but do not know if they did.

Although I am sure that the car benefit figures on the self-assessment returns are correct I am worried that my clients will blame me for creating a problem with HMRC and with their employer. Can I advise them to ignore the letter? If they do...