Damned if you do & damned if you don't

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

HMR&C, it appears, are moving some more goalposts around so that it will be the taxpayer's responsibility to make sure that the tax code HMR&C have given them is correct HMRC tax code change means it is up to taxpayers to spot mistakes | This is Money

[eek]

HMR&C, it appears, are moving some more goalposts around so that it will be the taxpayer's responsibility to make sure that the tax code HMR&C have given them is correct HMRC tax code change means it is up to taxpayers to spot mistakes | This is Money

You also have to combine it with the impossibility of getting hold of HMRC via the telephone to get advice. My wife spent 3 hours trying to rectify a tax code issue. 5 minutes to get it changed and a refund 2 hours 55 on hold waiting to speak to someone.

And she only did something because I told her that the letter from HMRC with this years tax code seemed awfully strange and what other income did she have that I didn't know about.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

You also have to combine it with the impossibility of getting hold of HMRC via the telephone to get advice. My wife spent 3 hours trying to rectify a tax code issue. 5 minutes to get it changed and a refund 2 hours 55 on hold waiting to speak to someone.

And she only did something because I told her that the letter from HMRC with this years tax code seemed awfully strange and what other income did she have that I didn't know about.

I know shocking isn't it. You also can't be transferred - if you end up with the wrong department (easy when you have lost the will to live listening to all the 'customer' options in the platform call centre) you have to dial again and listen to the whole blasted thing all over again

[The Spartan]

HMRC are useless, I received a letter saying I owe 800GBP turned out yet again it was their screw up as I'm sure Lisa can confirm this. Anyhow it'll still take over 4 weeks for them to process the information they require from the date it is received.

[Alias]

ahem...I little trick I use to contact them (and normally gets picked up straight away) is to use the international contact number from a phone that blocks my number...

I did try from my mobile once unblocked and got told off for using it...

HTH

[The Spartan]

I use the international number as I have to

[Nathan SJD Accountancy]

ahem...I little trick I use to contact them (and normally gets picked up straight away) is to use the international contact number from a phone that blocks my number...

I did try from my mobile once unblocked and got told off for using it...

HTH

Another trick.... Keep repeatedly pressing * on the telephone pad. Cut's out all the talking and puts you through to someone straight away.

Or you can try your luck at the Agent Priority Helpine (We don't wait)

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

My tax code was changed and they said I owed a fair few quid which I disagree with (Im permy), I rang HMRC to ask about it but they were useless had no idea why it had changed. Is it the case if I get an accountant to look at it all and my income they can work out what code I should be on, and how do you go about getting a refund ?

[Nathan SJD Accountancy]

My tax code was changed and they said I owed a fair few quid which I disagree with (Im permy), I rang HMRC to ask about it but they were useless had no idea why it had changed. Is it the case if I get an accountant to look at it all and my income they can work out what code I should be on, and how do you go about getting a refund ?

Yeah, they should be able to once you tell them your circusmtances e.g. current / past income, taxable benefits etc.

If it relates to previous years, a good idea may be to ask HMRC to send you details of your income from the past few years that they hold. Compare that to your records e.g. P60's etc and see if there are any differences. It is possible that in one year, you were taxed incorrectly.

HMRC have a habit of changing a tax code and simply saying 'you underpaid tax in 2008/09' without further details.

On the tax code notice it should say the reasons they have changed it. If you disagree, tell them to change it and usually they will, unless it is as a result of underpaid tax in which case asking for income details they hold may be handy.

Regarding receiving a refund. You can request the refund once you have all your facts and it is clear that you are entitled to it. When they get round to issuing it to you on the other hand is a different topic. :-)

[DaveB]

My tax code was changed and they said I owed a fair few quid which I disagree with (Im permy), I rang HMRC to ask about it but they were useless had no idea why it had changed. Is it the case if I get an accountant to look at it all and my income they can work out what code I should be on, and how do you go about getting a refund ?

Timely thread, I've just had a new tax code notification through that definatly looks wrong.

Based on being a bog standard Ltd Co. contractor with minimal salary and dividends I'd have thought I'd be on the standard code (810L for 12-13 for example) Needless to say thats not what they sent me...