Lamuth v Revenue and Customs (Income tax - late filing penalty - whether reasonable excuse) [2025] UKFTT 856 (TC) (11 July 2025)

Lamuth v Revenue and Customs (Income tax - late filing penalty - whether reasonable excuse) [2025] UKFTT 856 (TC) (11 July 2025)

The appellant's mistaken belief, combined with her attempt to clarify her tax position with HMRC and the lack of response to her 2017 letter, amounted to a reasonable excuse for late payment. All penalties were raised during the period of reasonable excuse, so the appeal is allowed and penalties quashed.

Citation
[2025] UKFTT 856 (TC)
Parties
Appellant: Sayrun Lamuth; Respondents: The Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
11 July 2025
Procedural Posture
Income Tax Penalty Appeal / First Tier Tribunal Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Income Tax, Late Payment Penalties, Reasonable Excuse, Self Assessment, Schedule 56 Finance Act 2009

Case Brief

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Parties

Sayrun Lamuth

Appellant

The Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Income Tax Penalty Appeal / First Tier Tribunal Decision

  1. 1 Whether late payment penalties were correctly assessed
  2. 2 Whether penalty notices were correctly issued
  3. 3 Whether the appellant had a reasonable excuse for late payment

Ratio Decidendi

The appellant's mistaken belief, combined with her attempt to clarify her tax position with HMRC and the lack of response to her 2017 letter, amounted to a reasonable excuse for late payment. All penalties were raised during the period of reasonable excuse, so the appeal is allowed and penalties quashed.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • All late payment penalties quashed