HMRC Stops Paper Notifications for Tax Repayments

As a taxpayer, you may have gleefully received a letter from HMRC notifying you about a repayment of your Corporation Tax or Income Tax self-assessment. However, starting from 8 April 2024, this will no longer be the case ...

HMRC recently announced that it will stop sending out paper notifications for tax repayments, and instead, taxpayers will simply receive the repayment into their bank account as normal.

"The decision to stop paper notifications is part of HMRC's ongoing efforts to modernise!"

According to HMRC, the letter notifying the repayment often arrives after the repayment has been made, causing confusion and unnecessary contact with taxpayers. This new process aims to eliminate these issues and streamline the notification process.

So, what does this mean for taxpayers? Well, if you are expecting a repayment of Corporation Tax or Income Tax self-assessment, you will now not receive a letter from HMRC notifying you about it. Instead, you can check your online account to see if the repayment has been made. If you are an agent, you can review the repayment on your HMRC online services for agents account.

"It is important to note that this change only applies to notifications for tax repayments!"

Other important letters, such as tax bills or reminders, will still be sent via post. Additionally, for taxpayers who are not able to access their online account, HMRC will continue to provide alternative arrangements.

To ensure a smooth transition, HMRC will continue to send paper notifications for tax repayments until the 8th of April 2024. After this date, all repayments will be made without a paper notification. However, taxpayers can still request a paper notification if they prefer to receive one.

As HMRC will no longer send letters notifying taxpayers of repayments, agents will need to check their clients' online accounts to stay updated on the status of repayments. This may require additional effort and time for agents, but it is a necessary step towards a more efficient process!

I feel that HMRC's decision to stop paper notifications for tax repayments is a positive step towards modernisation and will save it money overall. It will eliminate confusion and reduce unnecessary contact for taxpayers.

However, as with any change at HMRC, it may take time to adjust to the new process.

If you feel inspired to find out more about anything I've said here, do call me on 01908 774320 or leave a comment below and I'll be in touch as soon as I can.