In recent weeks, my firm has received three forms SDLT8 (information to complete a land transaction return) asking us to provide information that was already included on the form. I am advised by colleagues in the area that they have encountered similar problems.

Although I know I have correctly completed the forms in the first place, I cannot ignore the SDLT8 (much as I would like to) because I know that if I fail to respond I will be fined £100 for allegedly not providing the information within the requisite period. The problem is obviously nationwide, as the forms have come from three different stamp offices, namely Edinburgh, Newcastle and Bristol.


The whole system is grossly unfair. I can and will be fined for sending a return in a day or two late (even in cases where no duty is payable) and yet these stamp offices can display incompetence with impunity. It costs me time and money to have to respond to these spurious enquiries and I just become more and more angry with each one that arrives.


Letters of complaint have been met with complete silence and trying to ring the so called helpline to complain is a joke, as I have yet to speak to a human being on that line.



Peter Bolton, Farnworth & Watson, Colne, Lancashire