Please help - reclaiming tax

Nicky2905

Hello all.
I'm in a pretty dire situation having had an op in July and been on ssp ever since. I have 2 jobs, whilst off sick the hours at one of them have been reduced so handed in my notice alongside my sick note and have another job I am waiting to start. However, money is too tight to mention thanks to being on ssp, I have gone from having several hundred in my account to being only £400 away from my overdraft limit and now have no pay coming until the beginning of november.

Looking at the online calculator (using rough figures based on average payslips) it appears I may be owed close to £800. So far this year I have earned less than £4000 yet paid £570 in tax, last year I earned 10,000 and paid 1100 in tax. Although I have 2 jobs I should still be allowed to earn my 7470 before I'm taxed shouldn't I? I have been paying no tax on one job but basic rate on the other (which is the higher paid one)

Who do I ring? Is there a central number that will be able to help? Do I need all my exact figures of income and tax or will they have that? I know I should have split my tax code but I tried that once before and got nowhere (it was so complicated, kept getting told to speak to a different tax office and then sent back in a circle)

Also, can I still claim for last year? (2010 -2011) and if I DON'T need to have my figures myself can I go further back than that?

Sorry, hope this makes sense, I'm desperate to get back what I'm owed, I can't see how I'm going to keep food on the table for my kids otherwise until I get paid again!!

dori2o

For the current year there is nothing that can be done until you are back at work and receiving a salary. At that point your tax codes can be updated and assuming HMRC have all your income details from employers left and benefits received since 06/04/11 you can expect to receive a refund through your salary once the codes are updated.

With regards to the previous years, if you call HMRC on 08453000627 and can confirm your employment history for the period you wish to claim for and did not receive JSA in the past 2 tax years then the assessment can be arranged over the phone.

If you cannot confirm these details or have received JSA then unfortunately you will have to write in with previous years p45/p60 information and details of taxable JSA received.

Nicky2905

Thank you - when I go back to work I will be earning less than I was before (under 7k between the two part time jobs) so should be due most of the £570 I have already paid for this year back, will it be paid back in a lump sum? (I haven't been on jsa ever, have always been continuously employed, my sick leave ends this week and was hoping to start new job this week but crb hasn't come through yet, so will miss the oct paypacket and not get anything from there until Nov)

Unfortunately, now is the time I need the money to help get me through until my new wage comes in. If it IS going to come in a lump sum then I guess I need to decide whether to try an extend my overdraft for a few months or get a 0% credit card to be paid off when I get rebate.

The whole thing is so frustrating as none of it is my fault I couldn't help getting sick and needing a major op, and having my hours cut whilst on sick leave due to cutbacks Now it's my children who are suffering.

Savvy_Sue

Nicky, couple of things, have you checked that you are claiming everything you can in terms of tax credits, housing benefit (if renting), council tax benefit etc? It will get complicated and you'd need to be careful you didn't end up owing them money, but it would be worth looking into.

Also, you could ask your new employer if they'd be prepared to give you an advance of wages part way through the month, especially if you're starting in September but not due to be paid until early November. Not all will, but if you don't ask they certainly won't!

We pay our salaries on 25th each month, but we have someone starting the day after that. I've said we can do an advance at the start of October if they need it: we actually finalise our payroll mid-month, and never authorise a salary payment before someone has actually arrived (just in case!) but an advance is always possible if required.

Nicky2905

Thanks savvy sue, we don't qualify for anything due to my husband's income (well, a very small amount of child tax credit which I already receive - £10 a week). His wage covers the mortgage and household bills but we need mine to put food on the table and for all incidentals, I also have a couple of monthly direct debits I pay.

However, all is not lost - I had guesstimated last years income forgetting I had had 3 minor ops in the last tax year resulting in a fair bit of time off, so when I dug out my p60s and put the actual figures from last tax year in it appears I am owed £700 for last year alone!! Previous years will have been much the same as the tax code has been wrong for at least 3 years, I know they may be harder to claim as I don't have the documents but even if I can get that £700 sorted out now it will stop me going under.

My only wish is to get back to where I was before this operation, it feels like I've been financially punished for having an illness! If I can get back what I'm owed (and continue the good habits I am learning from this site) I will be able to put the whole mess behind me and move on.

I'm going to phone them today (I have someone coming round to sit with my toddler so I can make the call in peace and concentrate) wish me luck!!