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Failing to meet your employer obligations: Shortfall penalties

Penalties for tax shortfalls

We charge shortfall penalties on top of any normal tax. The shortfall penalty is a percentage of the tax shortfall (deficit or understatement of tax), which results from certain actions by the employer. There are five types of penalties:

  • lack of reasonable care  (20%)
  • unacceptable tax position  (20%)
  • gross carelessness  (40%)
  • abusive tax position  (100%)
  • evasion  (150%).

The rate of shortfall penalty may be reduced for previous good behaviour.

In addition to these penalties you could be fined and/or imprisoned for up to five years.

 


Date published: 13 Feb 2007

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