Tag: Appeal

Missing your HMRC tax tribunal appeal deadline doesn't mean your case is over. The Upper Tribunal's landmark decision in Medpro v HMRC fundamentally changed how tribunals approach late appeals, moving away from the strict Martland framework that previously barred most out-of-time applications. Today, tribunals weigh all circumstances equally—delay length, reasons for lateness, and your case's strength—rather than treating deadlines as near-absolute barriers. This shift opens new pathways for taxpayers with meritorious claims, but success depends on understanding the evolving rules and acting strategically. This guide explains the current tribunal landscape and your practical options.

Late HMRC Tax Tribunal Appeals: Medpro, Martland & Your Options

Under the old Martland rules missing a tax tribunal appeal deadline meant case closure as time limits were treated as virtually absolute. The Upper Tribunal’s 2025 decision in Medpro v HMRC restores judicial discretion and elevates case merits. Taxpayers with credible explanations now have a realistic path to rescuing late appeals. Understanding the shift and presenting your circumstances effectively to a tribunal, could mean the difference between recovering a valid claim and losing it permanently.

London skyline (Houses of Parliament/Big Ben) with a cracked insurance contract, a bundle of Pound Sterling cash, and a symbolic broken chain. Represents the UK Court of Appeal ruling confirming COVID-19 business interruption cover and rejecting insurer arguments on causation

Insurers Lose Appeal on COVID-19 Business Interruption Cover (At-the-Premises Disease Clauses)

The Court of Appeal in London International Exhibition Centre plc v Allianz & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 1026 upheld the High Court’s ruling that policyholders can recover COVID-19 business interruption losses under “at the premises” disease wordings, holding that each case of COVID-19 at the insured premises formed part of the concurrent cause of national closure orders.