HMRC to Charge Fixed Costs in County Courts

Fr om April 2012 HMRC will start charging fixed costs – up to a maxiumum of £180 - on all county court cases heard in England and Wales.

It follows changes made to the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) Civil Procedure Rules.

HMRC says from April, it will charge everyone a fixed cost wh ere judgment is awarded in HMRC's favour. Fixed costs will be based on a sliding scale set by the MoJ and will be shown as 'solicitors' costs' on the relevant claim forms.

HMRC is currently unable to recover its costs in going to the county court and obtaining judgment.