Tax return for older tax year

tigerminxy

For tax year 2004-05 I was told that I didn't have to fill in a self-assessment because my tax affairs were 'simple'.

Now call me cynical, but given that I tend to receive a tax refund every year, I saw this as the Inland Revenue (as it was then) trying to get out of giving me a refund each year so I filed a tax return anyway. I never received a refund, however, and, what with various life-changing activities going on, forgot about it until just now as I looked online to see where my 2005-06 tax refund has got to. (That's a different problem!)

Looking at my account online, it seems my tax return for 2004-05 was never filed so my question is, how can I file this and claim back the tax refund I think I'm owed?

Elaine_Wilson

You were probably taken out of the self assessment system when that letter was issued so an SA100 is not appropriate.

What you will need to do is to submit a form R40 Tax Repayment claim.

malcindebt

You don't need an R40, this is only for rpayments on investment income (intrest etc)

Just send your P60/45 and P11d if you have one, along with the details of any interest/dividends you receive with a covering letter requesting a repayment of overpaid tax.

jennifernil

We had the same letter, we insisted on receiving a return to fill up as we were due a refund. I think your suspicions are correct!

malcindebt

It's nothing to do with not wanting to give refunds, at the end of the day it is the responsibility of the individual to request a refund if they feel they have overpaid.
The Self Assessment system had simply gotten too big, and the revenue decided to change the criteria needed to reduce the numer of people who fill in tax returns, many who filled them in had no need to, so it made sense to cut the cost of processing these returns.

tigerminxy

malcindebt wrote:

It's nothing to do with not wanting to give refunds, at the end of the day it is the responsibility of the individual to request a refund if they feel they have overpaid.
The Self Assessment system had simply gotten too big, and the revenue decided to change the criteria needed to reduce the numer of people who fill in tax returns, many who filled them in had no need to, so it made sense to cut the cost of processing these returns.

Maybe, but my wife is also someone who is owed a refund every tax year and she was told not to send in a tax return. She filled one out anyway and got about £1500 back, so it's not a trivial amount.

I can understand the principle of trying to reduce the number of people who fill in returns (Lord knows I'd love to avoid doing it if possible) but perhaps they should've just cut out the people whose tax is always correct. I wonder how many people are now missing out on refunds because of this.

sarahlouise210

tigerminxy wrote:

Maybe, but my wife is also someone who is owed a refund every tax year and she was told not to send in a tax return. She filled one out anyway and got about £1500 back, so it's not a trivial amount.

I can understand the principle of trying to reduce the number of people who fill in returns (Lord knows I'd love to avoid doing it if possible) but perhaps they should've just cut out the people whose tax is always correct. I wonder how many people are now missing out on refunds because of this.

No-one needs to miss out - anyone can send their P60 and P11D (if they have one) to their tax office and ask them to check for a refund. There are several forms that can be completed showing expenses or investment income - tax returns really are not always necessary

marie_hc

If you think you are owed money by the inland revenue check your earnings work out if you have overpaid tax.

Send your p60 stating your findings. They will return your p60 and any refund directly to you.

pootle666

tigerminxy wrote:

For tax year 2004-05 I was told that I didn't have to fill in a self-assessment because my tax affairs were 'simple'.

Now call me cynical, but given that I tend to receive a tax refund every year, I saw this as the Inland Revenue (as it was then) trying to get out of giving me a refund each year so I filed a tax return anyway. I never received a refund, however, and, what with various life-changing activities going on, forgot about it until just now as I looked online to see where my 2005-06 tax refund has got to. (That's a different problem!)

Looking at my account online, it seems my tax return for 2004-05 was never filed so my question is, how can I file this and claim back the tax refund I think I'm owed?

If you filled in a return anyway they should accept it even if you haven't been asked to fill one out. If you kept a copy (this is one reason to always keep copies), I'd send it in with a letter of explaination.

Otherwise you can do as others suggest & send in P60 or similar & ask them to check. The simpliest thing is to give them a ring & ask them what the options are - it's difficult to advise without knowing what types of income you have.

I agree that the people that are most likely to be affected are those that often receive refunds, I wouldn't like to comment if that as the intention of the simplification, but it certainly seems to be one of the results. It's even more important not to be complacent about tax & just assume that it's being worked out right. They're certainly quick enough to jump if you underpay.

Hoddie_2

Why would somebody continually be due a refund? If you claim personal pension relief or Gift Aid relief, all you need to do is ensure the relief is claimed through your tax code correctly. You can update HMRC with the relevant amounts by telephone, and all they ask is that you confirm them at the end of the year (in writing or on form P810). Even if the relief claimed is large enough to require a tax return, the relief should still have been claimed through the code and no further repayment should be due.

If you're due a refund of tax deducted from investment income, then again no tax return is due. You need to complete a R40.

Someone who receives a refund year after year should not be in Self Assessment just because a refund is likely. The primary function of SA is to collect the tax due on untaxed or under-taxed income.

pootle666

I'm not saying the best way to deal with them is through self-assessment, I entirely agree it's not efficient & it means you have to wait until the end of the tax year for your money - but lets face it who looks at their tax coding - most people don't understand it at all & there's often stuff in them from years back that's entirely inappropriate.

Most people aren't aware of R40's and forget to tell their bank if they are low earners who shouldn't be paying tax. Lot's of people were comfortable filling in a tax return at the end of the year & waiting to be told what they're due. If they get a letter saying they don't need to anymore, they often assume they don't need to do anything else & may miss out on money due to them.

It's mostly lack of awareness, I entirely agree with you in principle, anything that slims down the system & makes processsing returns quicker is good in my books and there is no need for a lot of people to be in the system at all, but I stil think the result is that some people who are due a refund will not get it, because they've been told they don't need to do a return anymore & will assume everything is OK.