Tax Code correction - How long should it take?

PParka

Hi,

Does anyone have any idea how long it should take HMRC to correct a Tax Code?

I recieved a letter showing my Tax Code for 2011/12. It was completely wrong as I had a tax reduction for a Company Car and Medical Insurance which I don't have!

So I gave HMRC a call... The person on the phone didn't fill me with any confidence as they seem to have the wrong information about my employer. They did say I should receive a new letter soon.

Well, a few weeks have passed, and nothing has arrived. How long is 'normal' for the correct tax code to be sent?

Mikeyorks

Obviously it's a bit busy with up to 16M P2s being issued in the period late Jan to end Feb?

As long as it's corrected by your first pay date in April that should be OK? Give them a few more weeks.

FLAPJACK

My wife got a "Change in Tax Code" letter....They thought she was still working as well getting a small Occupational Pension, as a result with the new code she was due to pay more tax.

Called the tax office, she explained that she had retired and didn't work and as such the Pension was her sole income, they changed her tax code to the correct one then and there and she got a new "Change of Tax Code" letter a few days later stating the correct tax code for her.

10 mins on the phone and two days later confirmation in writing of the correction.

(Just have to see if it is correct in April though!;))

JOHNGT

Just done this myself. Got a wrong coding notice for 11/12 two weeks ago. Called HMRC next day and received correct coding notice yesterday.

Pennywise

Corrected tax codes are coming through quite quickly at the moment. I'm working through a pile of them for my clients and the corrected codes seem to be coming through quite quickly at the moment - I don't know for sure as I don't have the files to hand, but within a week or two for most seems to be the going rate.

I'd suggest you phone again. At the very least, they should be able to tell you if the new code has been issued - if not, then they can try again.

It's a shame, though, that so many wrong codes are coming out. Even though HMRC announced last year that they wouldn't issue new codes for SA filers until the SA return had been received and processed, most of the errors I'm seeing are where HMRC have ignored the information on the 09/10 SA return, most of which were submitted last Summer!!!