tax code when become a widow

kazwal_2

My dad died last month, and his tax code was around 9k, my mums is 6470 approx. My question is can my mum have the hgher tax code of 9k. She is nearly 70. Will she get it automatically, or do we have to do something specifically.

McKneff

Your mother should have the higher tax code already.
It should have been given toher automatically at 65, nothing to do with father,
she would have got this in her own right.

CLAPTON

your mum needs to contact the HMRC ... they should have given her a higher code at 65 but this doesn't always happen automatically

margaretclare

She gets a higher tax code at 65 and then another one at 75. Everyone has their own personal tax allowance whether married, single or widowed.

sleepless_saver

If her income has been above the personal allowance for people aged under 65 since she was 65, then she will have overpaid tax and should ask HMRC for the forms to reclaim it.

(The personal allowance for under 65s is £6475 in 2009-10, but has increased every year so previous years will be lower.)

kazwal_2

Thanks for replies but........"""so should she have had a tax code of 9k approx or is 647 correct for her at this time?
We rang Tax office, and asked if she can have dads code, but they said to get it she should have been born before 1935?
Very confused

hugheskevi

It sounds like a misunderstanding.

I think that when you asked HMRC about your mum inheriting your dad's tax code, they thought you were referring to the married couples tax allowance, which only applies if one partner was born before 1935. That isn't relevant here.

What is relevant are the individual personal allowances.

Anyone aged 65-74 has a personal allowance of £9,490 which is reduced if their taxable income exceeds £22,900.

Both your father and your mother (if they are both aged 65-74 with taxable income below £22,900) should have the tax code of £9,490 - this has nothing to do with inheriting any code, the code is for individuals.

Call HMRC again, don't mention anything about inheriting tax codes, just explain that you think your mother has the incorrect tax code applied, as she does not seem to have been awarded the higher personal allowance for people aged 65-74. That should sort it.

kazwal_2

thanks hugheskevi

that explains it better to me

cheers