Tax Refund - HMRC excellent service

D1zzy

I was due a Tax refund of 08/09 - so having finally gathered in all the tax certificates from my "rate tart" savings accounts I finally submitted my tax return online on Sunday. The refund is in my bank account today -that's pretty good service in my book so brownie points to HMRC

pete80

D1zzy wrote: »

I was due a Tax refund of 08/09 - so having finally gathered in all the tax certificates from my "rate tart" savings accounts I finally submitted my tax return online on Sunday. The refund is in my bank account today -that's pretty good service in my book so brownie points to HMRC

You beat me to it posting there D1zzy, I just checked my bank statement online this morning and a nice rebate was paid in last week, again a few days after the SA was submitted, mine included interest and tax overpaid on pension. I was expecting to wait till October/November so a pleasant surprise.:beer:

D1zzy

pete80 wrote: »

You beat me to it posting there D1zzy, I just checked my bank statement online this morning and a nice rebate was paid in last week, again a few days after the SA was submitted, mine included interest and tax overpaid on pension. I was expecting to wait till October/November so a pleasant surprise.:beer:

For info -am told its only this quick if you file online.

The other thing I discovered in trying to get Tax certificates - is that if you've signed with your bank for paperless statements you will not get a tax certificate automatically you need to request one. - would have saved me some time if I'd known that.

trevormax

you should be aware that with SA online, HMRC do a pay now, check later thing. The problem with this is if someone has made a mistake, then had a big refund, spent it and then been told by HMRC that they shouldn't have had the refund they have to pay it back.

They might also carry out an assessment on your return and from what people have told me, it is not a pleasant experience as they go through it with a fine tooth comb (from what I've been told).

However, if it is a simple easy case and you are already set up on SA then I would agree it is much faster than going through the letter and docs to HMRC PAYE rout

D1zzy

trevormax wrote: »

They might also carry out an assessment on your return and from what people have told me, it is not a pleasant experience as they go through it with a fine tooth comb (from what I've been told).

They can do the dreaded "enquiry" on any return -however filed,though, some chosen randomly and some which arouse suspicions

Pennywise

D1zzy wrote: »

They can do the dreaded "enquiry" on any return -however filed,though, some chosen randomly and some which arouse suspicions

Yes, but I think what the other poster was meaning is that just because they've paid out doesn't mean they've checked it, or even looked at it at all. That is a mistake a lot of people seem to make - they think that the tax inspector must be "agreeing" with it for them to make the refund. The whole system is "self" assessment meaning that the onus is on the taxpayer to be honest and get it right. The tax inspector can enquire into the return long after it's been "accepted".

D1zzy

Pennywise wrote: »

The tax inspector can enquire into the return long after it's been "accepted".

As has always been the case.

trevormax

D1zzy wrote: »

They can do the dreaded "enquiry" on any return -however filed,though, some chosen randomly and some which arouse suspicions

My point is not about if it is better to file online or offline. I meant for cases of a PAYE rebate or a rebate for just bank interest (which can be done using an R40) the tax man will go through it all before they issue a repayment and you avoind the prospect of there being an enquiry (I couldn't remember this word on my last post lol)

It is also far less likely there will be a big mistake requiring the money to be repaid in the future (unless you get an idiot working your case :P)