The above newly launched consultation seeks views on a proposal to introduce a statutory power allowing HMRC to withdraw a previously issued notice to file a personal, trustee or partnership Self-Assessment (SA) return and to cancel any penalty for failure to make such a return, where it is appropriate to do so.

HMRC is aiming to ensure that only those people whose circumstances make the income tax SA regime appropriate are included in the requirement to file returns. In particular, the power would be used for people whose circumstances mean they do not need to be in SA for the relevant year. This new power would be aimed at improving taxpayer experience by releasing those individuals from having to complete a SA return and reducing contact with HMRC.

Comments are requested by 16 August with the consultation available at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ConsultationDocuments&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_PROD1_032077