Employers PAYE Reference

fgh001

hopefully someone can help
recently started a second job (3weeks ago), with my 2 jobs wages combined i shouldnt be paying tax because im under the yearly threshold. Despite this i've had my first payslip from my second job and im being taxed under a 'BR' tax code. I have rang HMRC to try and explain and they said they cant do anything until they have an employers PAYE reference no. I contacted my employer and they have said the details have been sent to hmrc and the system will update my details. Is this right? If so how long does it normally take? and when will i get a rebate on the money i'am owed?
many thanks.

Savvy_Sue

Your employer ought to be able to tell you what THEIR code for dealing with HMRC is - usually 3 figures followed by a / and then more number / letter combinations, and I think that's what HMRC are after.

Phone them again and just say that you need the employer's code.

MediSin

You could find out your employer's ref number but I doubt that'll speed anything up. Being the hmrc, they're not going to do anything without paperwork. They're all about the paperwork. Grr. Your new employers should have got you to fill in a form (p46 as far as I remember) where you had to tick a statement about whether this is your only or main job. Once the hmrc have processed that, they'll send your new employers the correct tax code and they can update it on their system.

I think employers can refund the tax to you through your normal payment, but I'm not sure they have to. I had to claim a rebate from hmrc at the end of the financial year and it took ages.

Hmrc work ever so quickly when they want your money, but are never quite so on the ball when they owe you.

Savvy_Sue

MediSin wrote: »

You could find out your employer's ref number but I doubt that'll speed anything up. Being the hmrc, they're not going to do anything without paperwork. They're all about the paperwork. Grr. Your new employers should have got you to fill in a form (p46 as far as I remember) where you had to tick a statement about whether this is your only or main job. Once the hmrc have processed that, they'll send your new employers the correct tax code and they can update it on their system.

You're right it's a P46, I missed that the OP might not have filled one in, however if the OP cannot tick the box to say that this is their only job, the employer at the 2nd job is right to use code BR. I think the form now doesn't even ask about 'main' jobs.

Supplying the employer's ref should speed things up because HMRC can then contact each employer and check whether what the OP is saying about remaining below the tax threshhold is correct.

MediSin wrote: »

I think employers can refund the tax to you through your normal payment, but I'm not sure they have to. I had to claim a rebate from hmrc at the end of the financial year and it took ages.

If the new tax code issued by HMRC means that the calculations show that tax from that employment is to be refunded, then the employer has to refund the tax. However, that's done through the tax code, and unless and until HMRC send a new one the employer CANNOT just change it.

Employers get a tax code by looking at your P45. If you don't have one (either because you haven't yet been given one from your old job, or you've already given it in to a different employer) they should give you a P46. And if it's a second job, the right tax code to use is BR because they do not know - cannot know, and should not know - how much you are earning or likely to earn elsewhere.

MediSin wrote: »

Hmrc work ever so quickly when they want your money, but are never quite so on the ball when they owe you.

True enough ...