Claiming back income tax

Helen_J_3

Hello everyone

I'm sure there's 100s of threads about this on the forum so sorry if it's old news to some!

I started a new job last July for a big supermarket chain. I was working between 20 and 40 hours a week throughout July/August but when I started study in September this went down to 8 hours a week. I filled in a P46 before the end of August but I'm still on the tax code OT1 (emergency tax?).

I've tried ringing the tax office but they said fill in another P46 and give it your employer to sort out. I don't really want to ring them again as I was on hold for half an hour last time and it costs loads from a mobile! If I wait until April and they see I've earned under the 7475 threshold with they automatically refund the tax I've paid? Will I have to wait ages for it? If I ring them again will they pay it me back before April?

Ideally I need the money now as I'm living away and have no money!

Thanks for any help

Mikeyorks

Code 0T isn't emergency code ...... it's one that's used where it's considered all your personal allowances have been used. So you're paying 20% (at least) on everything.

Did you have a job prior to July? If so what happened to the P45? If no earlier job then which box of the p46 did you tick? As you should be on Code 747L which would give you correct allowances. The only way you get code 0T from a P46 is if you didn't complete the Section 1. Which would be why HMRC suggested you complete another?

If you simply leave it - the theory is you will get a refund around Sept 2012. But it's a risk to leave it as HMRC are clearly holding wrong details which need correction.

Helen_J_3

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Code 0T isn't emergency code ...... it's one that's used where it's considered all your personal allowances have been used. So you're paying 20% (at least) on everything.

Did you have a job prior to July? If so what happened to the P45? If no earlier job then which box of the p46 did you tick? As you should be on Code 747L which would give you correct allowances. The only way you get code 0T from a P46 is if you didn't complete the Section 1. Which would be why HMRC suggested you complete another?

If you simply leave it - the theory is you will get a refund around Sept 2012. But it's a risk to leave it as HMRC are clearly holding wrong details which need correction.

Thanks for your reply. No I didn't have another job prior to July, the last time I had a job I left in 2007 for study and I can't find the P45 from that job which is why I was on the wrong code to start with.

I can't remember which code I ticked but I was aware I should have been on Code 747L so I'm guessing I would have ticked that? I was on the OT1 Code from the start before I sent off the P46 which is what I don't understand? If it's not emergency tax then why have they assumed I've already used up the allowance!

I'll have to contact them as I really can't afford to wait until September I'll have a proper job by then I need it now!

jem16

Helen_J wrote: »

I was on the OT1 Code from the start before I sent off the P46 which is what I don't understand?

OT is the code which is used if you have not provided a P45 nor completed a P46 or have completed a P46 but not filled in Section 1.

Here is a P46. As Mikeyorks said, if you had completed Box A you would have been put on code 747L. So either you have not ticked any of Boxes A, B or C or your P46 has not been dealt with by your company.

Fill in this P46 and get it to your employers right away.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/p46.pdf

Who did you give the first P46 to?

Mikeyorks

Helen_J wrote: »

I'll have to contact them as I really can't afford to wait until September I'll have a proper job by then I need it now!

As the lady says - fill a fresh P46 in (as though you were doing it in July) - and get it to your payroll people. An attached note that HMRC have requested you do it - won't go amiss.

Helen_J_3

jem16 wrote: »

OT is the code which is used if you have not provided a P45 nor completed a P46 or have completed a P46 but not filled in Section 1.

Here is a P46. As Mikeyorks said, if you had completed Box A you would have been put on code 747L. So either you have not ticked any of Boxes A, B or C or your P46 has not been dealt with by your company.

Fill in this P46 and get it to your employers right away.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/p46.pdf

Who did you give the first P46 to?

I gave it to a supervisor who said she'd send it off !?

Helen_J_3

Thank you both for your help