Self-assessment refund - unexpectedly a total fiasco

hallmark

I'm owed about £2K as a refund.

At first I thought (stupidly) this would happen automatically. Of course it doesn't so I logged in at the beginning of January & requested a refund.

Still not received anything so logged back in today. No sign whatsoever of any refund having been initiated, just the same credit balance & a message saying I can request a credit.

As it happens I took a screenshot after I requested the refund so I know I did it correctly (& have a reference).

Clicked on "contact us". Brings up a page not found error. Impressive.

Googled around & eventually found a contact number. It's an 0845 one. After spending half an hour on hold I finally got through, usual security checks at the end of which I was told "there's no record of any repayment & "the system" isn't showing me anything, I'll get "them" to call you back".

"will that be today?"

"No, that'll be by Monday"

"What if they don't call back - since your system is capable of completely losing an online transaction THAT I HAVE THE REFERENCE FOR I don't have much faith that I'll be called back by an unknown person?"

"If you don't get called you'll need to call us back on Tuesday".

"Can't I call "them" today?"

"No"

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:


So just in case anyone was wondering, the billions that Brown has wasted giving us the most complicated tax system in the world has given us a system that utterly fails to work in any way whatsoever.

What a sh*tting surprise.

diggerman123

mine was mega fast . did it online 6th april last year , cash was in my bank on the 12th

williham

Yeah mine was fast and automatic after completing the self assessment

barvid

hallmark wrote: »

So just in case anyone was wondering, the billions that Brown has wasted giving us the most complicated tax system in the world has given us a system that utterly fails to work in any way whatsoever.

Having spent much of last year documenting the US and Canadian tax systems for payroll software development, I can categorically assure you that ours is pretty easy. We have two rates (okay, a third coming up) which apply to everyone. And that's about it. You tell me your salary and tax code and I can tell you how much tax you owe. Try living in the States, where you have federal taxes, then state taxes, and even some city-level taxes. It's a nightmare.

Poppy9

If I was you I would put your refund request in writing to the tax office enclosing a copy of your screenshot and asking them for compensation for the delay in paying you your refund.