A self-employed plumber has branded the UK Government 'heartless' after being fined for not submitting his accounts while his dad was hospitalised with coronavirus.
Chris Nixon was slapped with the penalty after they arrived late to Companies House in February, according to Manchester Evening News.
Now the 42-year-old, who owns a small business, faces an even bigger fine after an inaccuracy was identified - something his dad Trevor would have spotted.
The 70-year-old is employed as his son's accountant and usually deals with his finances, but was taken into hospital several weeks ago with the deadly bug.
Trevor's condition has been "touch and go" for a number of weeks while intensive care.
Chris said: "Just as lockdown happened my dad went into the hospital with coronavirus,".
"He is still in hospital now and we have had some really dark days - we think now that hopefully he is going to make a recovery. He is doing a lot better but still in intensive care."
Chris works on his own as a plumber and employed his dad to do his accounts over the last few years.
"My dad had sent the accounts off to Companies House that you have to do every year but there was some kind of clerical error so they sent it back," Chris said.
"My dad corrected the error and sent it back and we didn't hear anything else.
"Then two weeks ago I got a letter from the government saying that I was facing a fine."
Chris, who runs his firm from Oldham near Manchester, claims he wrote back to Companies House explaining the difficult situation with his dad being in hospital, and unable to help with the accounts.
He says he was told he would need to make the correction or face a penalty which increases daily.
"They said they were really sorry about my dad but told me that I should have had some contingency in place," Chris said.
"I am a one man band and I don't have the money to have two people on my books just in case a global pandemic hits and my dad is unable to do my accounts.
"With everything going on I just think it's really unfair.
"With everything that's happening with my dad at the moment the last thing I need to worry about is having to pay a hefty fine.
"I just think they are being so heartless given what is going on.
"They are treating the situation like everything is normal but what is normal about what is happening at the moment."
A spokesperson for Companies House said: "We understand this is a very difficult and challenging time for businesses across the UK and it our intention to provide support and assistance to enable them to meet their filing requirements.
"Companies affected by COVID-19 that are ineligible to apply for a filing extension should bring their record up to date as quickly as they are able.
"However, if accounts are filed outside of a filing period, an automatic penalty will be imposed. Companies do have the option to appeal.
"Each appeal is treated on a case-by-case basis and we already have policies in place to deal with appeals based upon unforeseen poor health. Appeals based upon COVID-19 will be considered under these policies."
