Strange response to tax rebate for uniform laundry

isushi

Hello,

After hearing of other people doing it I followed the advice on the forums and on the website to claim back tax rebate for uniform laundry in my previous job which I had worked for two years.

Instead of receiving a cheque I got this:

"Thank you for your claim for relief on laundry costs.

To allow me to proceed I first need to update my records.

Please send me your employer history for the period 6 April 2008 to 5 April 2011.

I also need your P60/P45U show the amount of jobseekers claimed during the tax years ended 5 April 2009, 2010 & 2011 tax years."

While I do not mind giving the above it has turned something that I thought was going to be simple (my brother sent the letter a few years ago and had no issues) is going to take more time and hassle.

I am also a bit concerned about why they suddenly need so much information that I thought they would have already had. Is this normal? I would hate it if it turned out that I owed money, but it might be better finding out sooner rather then later.

Is it still worth it if I only had the job for two years?

Mikeyorks

Sounds as though they are clarifying your employer was of the type where a logo'ed uniform was relevant. Probably no more than that - although the JSA doesn't fit. Other than that any allowance isn't payable in that period.

As to overall benefit. The range of allowance is typically £60 - £80. Which (at 20%) translates to £12 to £16 tax refund for each year.

TM1976

Why have HMR&C asked these questions:

1. You haven't provided enough information for them to determine what you have been doing since April 2008 or their records shows something to what you have told them.

2. HMR&C's records don't link in to the Jobcentre's so they need you to provide details of any JSA you have received. You can get a print off of this from your Jobcentre.

Savannah02K

I've just claimed on behalf of my god-daughter and got her £66 back, claiming for the full six years. What I don't understand is how some people are saying that they're getting £200 - £300. How is that? I think her £66 is right for the six years, would just be interested to hear how these people, some of whom's stories are posted on this website, are getting that much larger amount. Curious. Have I missed a trick when making her claim?

Mikeyorks

Savannah02K wrote: »

Have I missed a trick when making her claim?

I doubt it. Some of the suggestions of size of refund on here just don't compute.
When considering the average allowance is circa £80 - which translates to a £16 refund. And that was only £60 a couple of years ago (refund £13.20). And you can only go (shortly to be 4 years) back 6 years ...... simply doesn't add up for most?

In your case I assume the basic £60 (£45 to 08-09)? So £66 is going to be about right. With £12 being returned via pay in the current year.

chrismac1

They love doing "producers". If I had a fiver for every time I've had to send HMRC information they already have - such as P45s and P60s for client - I could probably pay for a nice cruise. A commercial business would never operate like this, because it would recognise that there is a very real cost involved which in this case is almost certainly a shedload more than just giving you the £12 tax rebate per year. Certainly anyone who has worked for me in accounts departments who got caught doing this sort of thing would be told in no uncertain terms to focus their time on the important stuff!

pozzie_2

My husband claimed for this months ago, and they "couldnt locate the claim", consequently he has sent the same information in to them 3 times. He has claimed for the last 6 years as he works for the local authority cleaning drains. After phoning them (twice) and being on hold for 45 minutes each time, we have been told his claim was done last Friday morning, and had been sent for security checks. What are they?? Still no correspondence and still waiting. What a palaver. I used to work for a govt department and we would have been hauled over the coals for such a delay over something which should have been straightforward.

spadoosh

Mikeyorks wrote: »

I doubt it. Some of the suggestions of size of refund on here just don't compute.
When considering the average allowance is circa £80 - which translates to a £16 refund. And that was only £60 a couple of years ago (refund £13.20). And you can only go (shortly to be 4 years) back 6 years ...... simply doesn't add up for most?

In your case I assume the basic £60 (£45 to 08-09)? So £66 is going to be about right. With £12 being returned via pay in the current year.

I did a claim about 2-3 years ago and definately got £200-300. Cant remember the exact breakdowns will have to dig it out. Now that im thinking about it im guessing part mightve been a standard tax rebate as opposed to uniform specific. but also can't remember them saying there was a normal rebat involved.

Told the missus to try it (same employer) she got a letter back saying her tax code already accounted for this and she actually owes HMRC 0.04p however due to the amount they would waive this. Well done HMRC very generous.

frank_black_2

Savannah02K wrote: »

I've just claimed on behalf of my god-daughter and got her £66 back, claiming for the full six years. What I don't understand is how some people are saying that they're getting £200 - £300. How is that? I think her £66 is right for the six years, would just be interested to hear how these people, some of whom's stories are posted on this website, are getting that much larger amount. Curious. Have I missed a trick when making her claim?

No you haven't - several at work have all claimed and all qualify, standard rebate was £66, some got more, looking it seemed to be based on what tax was paid last year

the calc for us was

last years salary minus an allowance for previous years claiming for, in our case they gave us £275 for the five years

then £60 was added to last years personal tax allowance (£6475) totaling £6535

then £6535 taken from the salary and differance x 20% to give the tax you should have paid

if we had paid correct tax last year then the rebate was £66 if wrong tax paid we got either more or less

if that makes sense

melindap

hi,
does this apply to Army as well?
My partner is in the TA and they have to take care of all their uniforms and kits themselves.

I cant find this on the job list, so I`m not sure.

thanks a lot, :j