Help Needed From Afghanistan!

bigsouth1981

Ladies and gents.

I left the UK to work in Afghanistan just over a fortnight ago, and a few weeks prior to leaving went into my local tax office in Liverpool and signed a P85 form. My current contract runs till Nov this year until the end of July 2012 next year. The likely hood is that it will be extended until Jan 2013, however if it is not then I will remain out of the country at least until Apr 2013 as I intend to go travelling for up to one year either way.

The tax office told me that when my new employer (a UK based company) submits my details to the inland revenue, then I will be issued a NT tax code making me exempt from tax as I will be spending less than 90 days within the UK. I called the tax office eariler (costing me a fortune) as my employer has not received any NT notice from HMRC. I was then told by the inland revenue that a P44 form has been issued to my employer as my "case" if you will is under review. When I asked what a P44 was, and what it entailed I was told by the operative that he "didnt know"!

Can anybody shed any light on this and help me out. I have searched the internet and am none the wiser. Has anybody encountered anything like this before?

Any help would be appreciated,

Regards,

A

BoGoF

A P44 is a form issued by HMRC to the employer to establish start date etc. It looks like your employer hasn't yet notified HMRC of your employment. Did you give them a P45 or complete a P46.

Cook_County

You are still resident in the UK because you are not in full time employment abroad for a period where the employment includes a complete UK tax year. Your Afgan earnings remain fully taxable in the UK - but of course you can claim credit in the UK for the Afghan tax you are paying.

You will need to register for self-assessment.

bigsouth1981

Yes, I signed a P46 before I left for the new company.

Cook - I dont understand why I am still classed as a UK resident. I am working permenantly outside the uk and will not be returning until april 2013 at the earliest. I explained this at the inland revenue office and the lady told me to fill in a P85. I also spoke to them yesterday briefly before I was cut off and they stated that they are waiting on this P44 to be completed by my employer then a NT Tax code will be issued.

What does "claiming credit" for my afghan pay involve.

The whole tax thing is a minefield!....

Thanks for your replies by the way,

A

Cook_County

Have you read HMRC 6 (HMRCs interpretation of statute and case law)?

Why do you think your circumstances are an exception to all recent case law?

Filling in forms is quite irrelevant until you have found out what the case law currently says.

bigsouth1981

Cook County.

Im an engineer not an inland revenue tax officer or an accountant. Had I even know of its existance let alone read HMRC 6, and if it does indeed provide an answer to my question, I wouldnt be wasting peoples time on here asking questions would I?

Not everyone spends as much time on here as yourself.

Good day.