Loan written off: are you in HMRC’s crosshairs?
HMRC is writing to directors that took a loan from their company that was later written off or released. What should you do if you receive a letter?

The letters are being sent to taxpayers who:
- had a director’s loan that was written off or released between April 2019 and April 2023; and
- did not declare the amount as income on their self-assessment tax return.
The amount released or written off is treated as an income distribution and is taxable at the appropriate dividend rates. If you do need to pay extra tax you can tell HMRC by using the digital disclosure service. This service can be used even if the loan was written off or released before April 2019, but for loans released or written off since 6 April 2023, you can simply amend your tax return to reflect the additional income.
Related Topics
-
Employee home-to-work travel costs during rail strike
To keep the impact of the recent London Underground strikes on your business to a minimum it offered to reimburse employees for the costs of travelling to work via other means. Does this create a taxable benefit in kind?
-
Electronic VAT return and payment due
-
Frequent changes of company car
If your employees enjoy multiple changes of company car during the year, could averaging the car benefit calculation save tax? If so, what’s involved and how can they avoid an unexpected tax bill?