Agents Charges for providing information to HMRC ?
1:39 PM, 19th September 2016, 10 years ago
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Have any other members been charged by their agent for providing information to HMRC when their accounts do not provide the name of the managing agent to the HMRC
I feel I may be being conned as I aware of another customer of the same agent who challenged a similar charge being refunded.
Many thanks
Gordon
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Member Since February 2011 - Comments: 3453 - Articles: 286
1:40 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Hi Gordon,
This may be a stupid question, but how did HMRC request the information if you did not tell them who the agents were?
Member Since September 2016 - Comments: 2
1:56 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
I had asked the agent to provide details of HMRC request,I am still awaiting a reply
Member Since July 2014 - Comments: 86
2:09 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
I believe all letting agents are required to provide information to HMRC on their landlords on an annual basis to catch landlords who have failed to declare income from letting.Countrywide the largest letting agent charges £15 + vat for each property which is a nice little earner as i suspect that all the information on their landlords is provided electronically in one go
Comments: 184
2:29 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
I’m an agent, and, Ray is correct to believe agents have to provide details of all their clients to HMRC.
As far as I am concerned this is simply a cost of business. It is not a service to my landlords, it is something my business must do in order to comply with legislation.
For that reason the cost is factored into the regular fees I charge my landlord clients – I do not make a separate or additional charge for it.
To answer the original question – does the agents terms of business specify that they will make an additional charge for this work? If it does then (regardless of whether you feel its fair or not) you should pay up. If it doesn’t then refuse to pay.
My suspicion is that the terms of business won’t highlight this charge, rendering it unenforceable.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 1264 - Articles: 1
8:19 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Yes my agent charges about £20 per landlord. It is the law. If you’re being charged much more than that then complain.
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12193 - Articles: 1395
9:49 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Check your contract with the agent.
If you are paying for full management I’d have thought this should be included in the fees you’re paying.
And yes, all agents have to provide this information to HMRC on request.
Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 883
10:07 PM, 19th September 2016, About 10 years ago
The request must take a the form of a statutory notice. Agents don’t have to reply to a simple letter.
I’m sure HMRC sends the required notice, though.
Clients may be charged only if the charge was agreed.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 305
9:49 AM, 20th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Romain Garcin” at “19/09/2016 – 22:07“:
So what if the Landlord refuses to agree the charge? The agent can’t refuse to provide the information to HMRC.
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 342
10:08 AM, 20th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Adrian Jones” at “20/09/2016 – 09:49“:
The problem with your comment is that agents are like banks. They simply take it from the rent or in the case of banks your account. So I imagine it is not just a question of refusing?
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 305
10:24 AM, 20th September 2016, About 10 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Yvonne Francis” at “20/09/2016 – 10:08“:
I don’t understand your comment. Romain said clients could only be charged if the charge was agreed. I asked him what if the Landlord refused to accept the charge.