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Penalties, appeals & disputes
Appeal an HMRC Penalty: Official Links for Appeals and Complaints
Official links only, organised by task, with notes on who uses each one.
Official sources only · Links checked 23 September 2026 · Last updated 23 September 2026
Quick answer
Appeal HMRC penalties and decisions through GOV.UK’s tax appeals guidance, usually within 30 days. Check whether the circumstances are a reasonable excuse first. For poor service, complain to HMRC. If an appeal fails, you can ask for a review or go to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax).
Appeals
Act within the deadline on HMRC’s letter.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disagree with a tax decision or penalty | Open Disagree with a tax decision or penalty (opens in new tab) | Clients, agents | — |
| Reasonable excuses | Open Reasonable excuses (opens in new tab) | Clients, agents | — |
| Appeal to the tax tribunal | Open Appeal to the tax tribunal (opens in new tab) | Clients, agents | — |
Complaints
Complaints cover service, not tax decisions.
| Task | Official link | Who uses it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complain about HMRC | Open Complain about HMRC (opens in new tab) | Clients, agents | — |
| Companies House late filing penalties | Open Companies House late filing penalties (opens in new tab) | Companies | — |
See it working with your own clients
Client references, payment reminders and deadlines in one place.
Keep all of this inside your practice management software
Store each client’s UTR, VAT number, PAYE reference, Accounts Office reference and Corporation Tax payment reference in custom fields on the client record. Create one payment instructions email template with tokens that fill in each client’s own reference, then send it to one client or in bulk before each deadline. Set automated reminders and recurring tasks for every payment date, and pull filing deadlines with Companies House sync. Remindoo doesn’t submit filings, take payments or connect to HMRC — it keeps the references and the reminders in one place.
See the Remindoo how-to guides and getting started.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I appeal an HMRC late filing penalty?
Most Self Assessment penalties can be appealed online or by form, usually within 30 days of the penalty notice. Explain the reasonable excuse, when it ended and that the return was filed without delay. GOV.UK’s tax appeals pages list the routes for each tax.
What counts as a reasonable excuse?
Something outside the taxpayer’s control that stopped them meeting the deadline, such as serious illness or a bereavement. Relying on someone else, including an adviser, is not usually enough. GOV.UK’s reasonable excuses page gives examples.
How do I complain to HMRC?
Use GOV.UK’s Complain about HMRC page. Complaints cover delays, mistakes and poor service, not the tax decision itself — use the appeal process for that. If unresolved, the Adjudicator’s Office can review.
What is the First-tier Tribunal (Tax)?
The independent tribunal that hears tax appeals. You can usually appeal after HMRC’s decision or review. GOV.UK’s Appeal to the tax tribunal page explains time limits and how to apply.
Can I appeal a Companies House late filing penalty?
Yes, but only in exceptional circumstances. Companies House guidance explains what it considers. Use our free template to structure the appeal.
How can I prevent penalties in the first place?
Set internal deadlines ahead of every statutory date, automate reminders to clients for records and track every job to completion. Remindoo supports this with internal vs external deadlines, automated reminders and Companies House sync.
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Last updated 23 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice. Always follow the official GOV.UK page.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
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“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
