You might want to ignore HMRC but they won’t ignore you.
A Director received an enquiry from HMRC about income from work done by his business a few years before. He ignored the enquiry but later received a tax demand based on estimated receipts. He challenged the estimate but then was sent a request to sign an authorisation for HMRC to approach his former clients and other contacts. He ignored this too.
HMRC then arranged for an inspector to visit him at home.
This must have been an uncomfortable experience as various gaps in his memory were filled with information already available to HMRC. After the visit, he received a revised, but still substantial tax demand and a full history of HMRC communications with him. At this point he came to Citizens Advice for help.
He was told that without records he hadn’t got a leg to stand on.
The best thing he could do was apologise for wasting resources and ask for some reduction in the amount payable because even without records there were obviously outgoings to set against income. In reality he needed records, an accountant – and to understand everyone is expected to pay tax that’s due.