Accelerated Payment Notices (APNs) Recover ВЈ4bn in Unpaid Tax

HMRC’s controversial tactic of issuing Accelerated Payment Notices has help collect more than £4bn in unpaid tax.

Accelerated Payment Notices (APNs) were launched by HMRC in 2014 as a method of collecting unpaid tax from users of tax avoidance schemes.

Those in receipt of an APN are required to pay the amount of unpaid tax upfront in full within 90 days prior to commencing an appeal process with HMRC. Since APNs were launched, over 75,000 have been sent out and HMRC will now be sending out even more.

HMRC has identified a list of tax avoidance schemes which it is working through to actively targeting users with APNs.

According to HMRC figures, the average bill for individuals is £74,000. Each day HMRC collects an average of £38,400 in unpaid tax.

Accelerated Payment Notices handed HMRC new powers to clampdown on tax avoidance. Critics have argued that it has and will leave many individuals bankrupt given the 90 day window in which the disputed tax is to be paid in full.

There is an appeal process, but this can take years, and the level of success has been relatively low.

There are options available to those who have invested in tax avoidance schemes and we would urge anyone to get professional advice in the first instance rather than contacting HMRC directly.

In 2014 rules around tax avoidance schemes were changed. If you had invested in a scheme prior to 2014 you may fall onto HMRC’s radar. If you would like to discuss your circumstances in complete confidence, you can call us on 0113 387 5670 or email enquiries@forthsonline.co.uk