SDLT penalties for incorrect returns

Patrick Cannon's website includes an item explaining that a legislative error may put HMRC on the back foot when pursuing a taxpayer for penalties in relation to an incorrectly filed SDLT return. The item is too technical for simplification here, and needs to be read in full, and it will be of interest to property tax lawyers in cases where the amount of the penalty to be raised against a client could be significant. Patrick Cannon's own introductory simplification is that: “A drafting error may mean that penalties for incorrect SDLT returns cannot currently be charged and will only apply to returns due from April next year.” Click on the article - April Fools.