Tax code changed to 313T - any ideas why?

Tigsteroonie

I'm curious about this ...

Since the start of the last FY, I've been on JSA(C), JSA(IB) and now I'm on MA. I also get CTC now that baby's been born. I haven't returned to work yet.

I received a new tax code two days ago - for the coming FY (10/11) - of 313T.

Why is it so low?

Is it normally that low for parents, is it because you make it up with WTC?

Or is it to reflect the fact that, at the start of the FY, I'd still be getting MA of £123/wk, that's tax-free but would count as income?

Any ideas? I thought I'd ask on here before phoning HMRC to ask!

chrisbur

The normal P2 notice of coding, example here...
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/p2/p2.pdf
should explain why you code varies from the normal.

Tigsteroonie

Thanks but the explanation on the HMRC letter doesn't help!

We know you have another job, or pension (you may get a notice of coding for that job, or pension too). We have used some of your allowances to give you a tax free amount at this job or pension.

I don't have another job - I don't have any job! - or pension. I do have weekly Maternity Allowance being paid, and hence why in my OP I wondered if the MA was being counted as taxable income.

Also, my MA is due to end in mid-May. If my tax code does indeed reflect the MA as taxable income, can I get my tax code recalculated back to the normal level?

eta. Never mind, I'll phone them and ask. I'll post back the answer I get, as it might help somebody else.

Tigsteroonie

Okay, so nobody would have known this answer!

Turns out that for some reason, my last employer is listed as employing me twice, and my tax code had been split between the two employment records. They're now sorting it out for me and putting me back to one code.