Rebate going back from 2005

Buster_Danog

My sister worked as a care worker between 2001 and 2005, but became ill in 2005 and only recovered in April this year after major surgery. She never claimed a tax rebate for the time she was working and I'm wondering if it is possible to do so now given the fact that she left work due to serious illness, which is verifiable from her medical records?

She still has all her payslips and may have her P45. I am not sure if people are expected to claim rebates within a certain period of time, but due to her constant treatment over the years she wasn't in much of a position to organise things like that and I did not know about this until recently.

Mikeyorks

Claiming a refund doesn't depend on her being able to furnish medical proof. It would only need her to provide the P45 or a simple statement showing where she last worked (final payslip data would help if no P45).
If she last worked prior April 2005 then that falls in 04-05 and she has until 31st Jan 2011 to claim. If she worked later than April then it falls into 05-06 and she has until 31st Jan 2012 :-

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/overpaid-thro-job.htm#3

Horseunderwater

Did she get a P60 after she left the last employer? She would still get one of those even if she was claiming incapacity or sickness benefits as there would have been some continuity from her last employment to the end of that tax year. If she has that and quotes her national insurance number to her local tax office enquiry unit, they should be able to track her records down. The important thing is to get it in sooner rather than later. Once it is in the system and the claim logged, then it can be dealt with. She might need to fill out a P50 form, which you print off via download from HMRC web site. I presume that any taxable income after that will be below tax thresholds, so no refund due?

Buster_Danog

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Claiming a refund doesn't depend on her being able to furnish medical proof. It would only need her to provide the P45 or a simple statement showing where she last worked (final payslip data would help if no P45).
If she last worked prior April 2005 then that falls in 04-05 and she has until 31st Jan 2011 to claim. If she worked later than April then it falls into 05-06 and she has until 31st Jan 2012 :-

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/overpaid-thro-job.htm#3

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try to find out about the P60. As for the above information it seems like she won't be able to claim for tax years prior to 05, despite having worked from 2001. Oh well!

jennifernil

She will be able to reclaim if appropriate for 04/05, so surely that would cover the date she stopped working?

For previous years, I would assume she was on PAYE and had checked that her Tax Code was correct?

dawyldthing

it might be worth applying to their better nature if you explain the circumstances tbh

Mikeyorks

Sergeant_Troy wrote: »

it seems like she won't be able to claim for tax years prior to 05, despite having worked from 2001.

Why do you consider a 'claim' is appropriate for earlier years? If she left during '05 and hasn't worked subsequently (or had taxable benefits) then there will be unused personal allowances for that year. Which may generate entitlement to a refund. The same doesn't apply to previous years?

Murdina

Please also bear in mind that some state benefits, such as incapacity benefit, are taxable - in case she happened to be getting this in the year she stopped work.

Buster_Danog

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Why do you consider a 'claim' is appropriate for earlier years? If she left during '05 and hasn't worked subsequently (or had taxable benefits) then there will be unused personal allowances for that year. Which may generate entitlement to a refund. The same doesn't apply to previous years?

This is why I am asking here. The only experience I have of a rebate was my own which I claimed after working for four years. I don't remember how that was broken down year by year. I only recall sending off paperwork and being sent a cheque.

Is the word "claim" inappropriate? It seems to be commonly used in relation to rebates

Mikeyorks

Sergeant_Troy wrote: »

I only recall sending off paperwork

What was the claim for - there had to be a reason for it?

For most people in continuous employment the PAYE system correctly calculates the tax year after year. And it is only where jobs change / there is another source of income / etc that things go wrong and a rebate / underpayment is generated.

I can well see that if your sister ceased work and did not return then a refund may be applicable for that year. As she will possibly have unused personal allowances. But you haven't given any reason whatsoever why a refund may be appropriate for earlier years.

In your case were you applying for an allowance for tools / uniform laundering / professional subscriptions .....? All of which can generate a refund claim over several years.

Buster_Danog

Hi Mike, I was working in an office job. It was customer service / admin and I don't remember being asked to specify what the claim was for. I sent off my payslips and whatever else they asked for and they sent me a cheque. I can't help being ignorant about this as the last rebate I had was back in 2003 roughly. I don't remember the details. I know my dad had a rebate and was fleeced by an accountant, but he was a painter & decorator so I guess tools might have been part of it. Not for my office job though.

My sister's payslips do seem to be constantly adjusted, but I don't remember my payslips being set out like hers with tax overpayments being refunded month by month.

Edited to add: I definitely was not claiming for any "allowance" in my own rebate. I had none to claim for.