Readers’ forum: Repayment claim check

About ten years ago I acted for a subcontractor in the building industry who was subject to deductions under the construction industry scheme (CIS).

My appointment was short lived because he made various comments on the size of his tax repayment and my professional ability. However I must still be registered as his agent because I have just received a long letter from HMRC’s ‘Indv and Small Business Compliance Complex and Agents’ office.

The letter acknowledges receipt of a self-assessment repayment claim and says: ‘As part of our security procedures we verify a number of returns to make sure that the repayment amount claimed is correct. This is not a check into your self-assessment return under [TMA 1970] s 9A.’ However it does add later: ‘I will be checking your ... tax records for 2020.’

The letter starts by going through the standard money laundering questions that...