HMRC Letter - received today

mrylandb

I have received a letter from HMRC (specifically issued by PAY AS YOU EARN)

Headline: Most employees pay the right amount of tax. Do you?

I have had my tax code changed twice this year to take into account underpayments relating to benefits from prior years - these were not disputed and were fully understood.

Not sure if there are any sinister undertones to this letter (ie will there be further demands, or is this a generic letter sent to thousands...)

No reference on my letter apart from my NI number and my employer payroll reference.

Has anyone else received this letter? My thoughts are that it is nothing to get concerned about as my only income (apart from about £50 in dividends and no bank interest) is through work and I make enough donations to charity to offset anything if required.

Thanks in advance

PlutoinCapricorn

Is it definitely from HMRC and not from one of those companies that offer to get refunds for you - for 40%- or a scammer?

Are they asking you to do anything?

mrylandb

Hi - letter was definately from HMRC and not a scam.

I was just curious to see whether anyone else had received this. It is probably HMRC ticking their "we've communicated to the tax payer" box so in the event of any mistakes they can refer to this letter as giving prior warning. I am all over my tax affairs (as an accountant it would be rude not to!) but I do think that HMRC have better things to spend their money on than these generic letters which don't actually say much...

The letter gives examples of where I could have paid too little tax (becoming self employed, receipt of untaxed income), or where I could have paid too much (charitable donations, pension contributions etc) and to tell them if any of my circumstances have changed. If they had checked my NI number they would have seen the same employer reference for the past 6 1/2 years with a steady stream of deductions being shipped their way.

vax2002

They are clamping down on the pennies from the small guy, whilst the corporation's are let of with billions in tax they owe.

uttershambles

Hi All, noob here, well in the posting sense anyway! I also received this letter like mrylandb and got worried about something that must have triggered it as it states at the bottom "If you have a tax adviser, please show them this letter". I can't afford a tax advisor so was hoping somebody would have a clearer understanding of why I have been targeted for this mail shot. I have rented a room but under the 4250 allowance and also put a small amount into shares lately. Are these possible flags which would put me in the HMRC headlights. Would love to hear from someone in the know. Many thanks.

ollielfc

Hi all
Same here also received the same letter got nothing to worry about as far as im aware if it is just a generic mail shot ie the hmrc just fishing for anybody not paying the correct tax seems a poor way to try and catch people out or could there be more in it like you have been flagged up for something on there system would like to know if a lot of people received this letter

AirlieBird

This type of letter generally gets sent to you when they detect that you have become, or are close to being, a higher rate taxpayer in the previous tax year.

suso

looking into my crystal ball,

The letter is dated the 19th November, or possibly 22nd October
You are a higher rate taxpayer, or were last year, or are expected to be this year,
You don't complete self assessment tax returns or haven't for the last couple of years.
It says in one of the corners, SA252

its a standard letter, not been issued for the last couple of years, but were issued regularly before that,

heres one of the threads relating to it from a few years ago.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/579395

mark31_2

I got one today too, exactly as described; just became a higher rate taxpayer this year.

lumpkins

I got a rebate from HMRC today. There is an article on MSE relating to errors made in tax codes in years between 2005-2008. I was a bit curious because mine was a rebate that I wasn't expecting. I don't know how to link to articles but it's in the latest news on tax on here (kind of like an updating side bar) Everybody is having their tax payments and codes assessed for those periods and they are sending the results over the next few months. Lots of people are expected to owe money back (the mse article has advice re this)but some people are due rebates of up to £300. Hope this helps a bit and hope someone might be able find the relevant article and maybe add a link to it if the situation is concerning people.

Mikeyorks

They're mainly doing 10-11 from 4 months ago. This from the horse's mouth ....... as some of the MSE News aricles relating to HMRC are a bit lop sided ;

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/p800/paye-tax-calcs.htm

(the HMRC site is a bit 'iffy on one of my browsers tonight - so may need patience)