HMRC - Still waiting for my bloody tax refund.
Discussion
My annual dealings with the shower of teflon shouldered muppets that are known as HMRC is really beginning to drive me up the wall now. I shall set the scene...
20th May - I sent off a letter stating that I've overpaid tax (PAYE) and asking for a refund (I understand that I could have done this online, but didn't realise until after I'd sent the letter).
20th June - I phone up to chase, knowing full well that it takes up to 4 weeks to process an application, lady on the phone says my letter has been received but they've bothered to do anything with it yet, but seeing as I've phoned up they'll fast track it (why the feck they weren't dealing with it anyway is beyond me).
20th July - I phone up again to be told the cheque was sent on the 14th July second class and to leave it until the 28th and see if it has arrived.
28th July - Once again I spend a small fortune in telephone calls on hold only to be told that if I decide to ask for the cheque to be cancelled and reissued it could take up to 6 weeks for it to be processed.
So now I'm snookered, I either sit around waiting for a cheque to arrive that could be anywhere in the Royal Mail system or I wait up to 6 weeks for them to post another cheque only for that to get lost in the post too.
Most importantly, how the fecking hell can it possibly take 6 weeks to cancel a cheque, print a new one and put it in the post?!
Utter b
ds, if I didn't pay my tax for over 2 months they'd soon be on my back, and yet when I ask for my money back they drag their heels and take as long as possible.
20th May - I sent off a letter stating that I've overpaid tax (PAYE) and asking for a refund (I understand that I could have done this online, but didn't realise until after I'd sent the letter).
20th June - I phone up to chase, knowing full well that it takes up to 4 weeks to process an application, lady on the phone says my letter has been received but they've bothered to do anything with it yet, but seeing as I've phoned up they'll fast track it (why the feck they weren't dealing with it anyway is beyond me).
20th July - I phone up again to be told the cheque was sent on the 14th July second class and to leave it until the 28th and see if it has arrived.
28th July - Once again I spend a small fortune in telephone calls on hold only to be told that if I decide to ask for the cheque to be cancelled and reissued it could take up to 6 weeks for it to be processed.
So now I'm snookered, I either sit around waiting for a cheque to arrive that could be anywhere in the Royal Mail system or I wait up to 6 weeks for them to post another cheque only for that to get lost in the post too.
Most importantly, how the fecking hell can it possibly take 6 weeks to cancel a cheque, print a new one and put it in the post?!
Utter b
ds, if I didn't pay my tax for over 2 months they'd soon be on my back, and yet when I ask for my money back they drag their heels and take as long as possible.Sadly, this is now the norm for HMRC in my opinion - at least on the old Inland Revenue side. Customs (VAT) are only marginally better depending on what you want.
I put it all down to removal of all the local offices and 'regionalisation'. I saw something the other day that said there was a backlog of 18 million queries. Umm - that must be half the tax paying population.
They like phone queries for speed - if they don't cut you off saying 'call back later' - but they are just as bad as banks etc for ID verification. The problems we had getting responsible employees authorised so they can deal with queries to ensure we pay the correct taxes.
You have my sympathy - half my letters are to HMRC correcting their errors when taxing our directors.
I put it all down to removal of all the local offices and 'regionalisation'. I saw something the other day that said there was a backlog of 18 million queries. Umm - that must be half the tax paying population.
They like phone queries for speed - if they don't cut you off saying 'call back later' - but they are just as bad as banks etc for ID verification. The problems we had getting responsible employees authorised so they can deal with queries to ensure we pay the correct taxes.
You have my sympathy - half my letters are to HMRC correcting their errors when taxing our directors.
Reviewing the paperwork for their mortgage application, my wife noticed that our future son-in-law was on a BR tax code (ie he was getting no personal allowance).
She got him to call his tax office - they said they would adjust his current year code immediately and would refund past excess tax paid in 2-3mths. In fact he got a cheque for £4K within 4 weeks.
She got him to call his tax office - they said they would adjust his current year code immediately and would refund past excess tax paid in 2-3mths. In fact he got a cheque for £4K within 4 weeks.
I'm going through the same thing, you need to raise a complaint, specifically state you wish to raise a complaint.
They will assign you a claim / complain officer and you will have that persons direct line.
Once I had this persons name and number I have called every day for 11 working days, and finally he has sorted it out !! Just got to wait for the cheque 7 to 10 days advised from Tuesday,
However I will believe it when it banked and cleared !!
They will assign you a claim / complain officer and you will have that persons direct line.
Once I had this persons name and number I have called every day for 11 working days, and finally he has sorted it out !! Just got to wait for the cheque 7 to 10 days advised from Tuesday,
However I will believe it when it banked and cleared !!
Quick question if I may hijack your thread.
I'm now working two (new) jobs - one is a full time role and the other is a part time pub job.
I know my current tax code is wrong (currently 406L) which I will be resolving shortly but I wonder how I should manage my tax allowances for my 2nd job.
The 2nd role is a pub job - approx 60hrs per month at minimum wage. I've been there a month and have been taxed using the BR code.
Should I keep the tax code for my main job at 406L and use the rest of my allowance on the 2nd role? I'm planning on doing the pub jub for around a year while I get some debt paid off.
Thanks,
Phill
I'm now working two (new) jobs - one is a full time role and the other is a part time pub job.
I know my current tax code is wrong (currently 406L) which I will be resolving shortly but I wonder how I should manage my tax allowances for my 2nd job.
The 2nd role is a pub job - approx 60hrs per month at minimum wage. I've been there a month and have been taxed using the BR code.
Should I keep the tax code for my main job at 406L and use the rest of my allowance on the 2nd role? I'm planning on doing the pub jub for around a year while I get some debt paid off.
Thanks,
Phill
Deva Link said:
pmanson said:
the rest of my allowance on the 2nd role?
Just how much tax allowance do you think you'll get? 
Your allowance will all be used up in your full-time job. Taxing your second job at BR is normal.
Not a problem with being taxed at basic rate - as long as it's correct.
It's best to have your full allowance offset against the main employment - especially if the salary from the main employment is higher than £6,475 per annum (the basic allowance level at the moment). Any other salaries or pension income would then be taxed at Basic Rate (BR).
Things get complicated if you need to pay Income Tax at higher rates, are in receipt of the State Old Age Pension or have additionl allowances or Benefits in Kind which affect your overall tax codings.
Things get complicated if you need to pay Income Tax at higher rates, are in receipt of the State Old Age Pension or have additionl allowances or Benefits in Kind which affect your overall tax codings.
Eric Mc said:
It's best to have your full allowance offset against the main employment - especially if the salary from the main employment is higher than £6,475 per annum (the basic allowance level at the moment). Any other salaries or pension income would then be taxed at Basic Rate (BR).
Things get complicated if you need to pay Income Tax at higher rates, are in receipt of the State Old Age Pension or have additionl allowances or Benefits in Kind which affect your overall tax codings.
Thanks Eric. Total earning should be under £40k for the year and no other BIK at the moment. So I'll keep going as is for the time being but keep an eye on thingsThings get complicated if you need to pay Income Tax at higher rates, are in receipt of the State Old Age Pension or have additionl allowances or Benefits in Kind which affect your overall tax codings.
Just to add from the other side, I knew I had underpaid tax at the end of last year, due to my ex employer only taxing a pay after I had left and been issued a p45 at basic rate instead of 40%.
I sent them all the paperwork in June and they have only now got round to working out how much I owe them.
I sent them all the paperwork in June and they have only now got round to working out how much I owe them.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I did my tax return online on a Monday, refund in bank by Friday.
It can be done!
Not quite that quick for me, but I sent a paper return in just before the dealine at the end of Oct and got a letter saying I was due a refund a couple of weeks later. Checked the bank and it was already there.It can be done!
The ironic thing is that those who complete Self Assessment tax returns seem to be dealt with fairly speedily. Indeed, if submitted electronically, the speed of response is frankly astonishing.
The problems with delays seems to be for those who do NOT complete Self Assessment returns. The system for responding to (say) PAYE cases is ad oc, inconstent and downright inefficient.
The problems with delays seems to be for those who do NOT complete Self Assessment returns. The system for responding to (say) PAYE cases is ad oc, inconstent and downright inefficient.
Eric Mc said:
The ironic thing is that those who complete Self Assessment tax returns seem to be dealt with fairly speedily. Indeed, if submitted electronically, the speed of response is frankly astonishing.
It is refreshing to read praise for HM Revenue & Customs, particularly for their online services, and the same from an eminent and respected poster.Last week, for the very first time I submitted my Self Assessments online, I was so astonished at the simplicity and the speed of response, that I am ticking the days off the calendar for the 6th April 2011 to arrive.
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