HMRC have taken underpayments straight from my wage. help!!!

bevalio

Hello,

I went bankrupt MAY 2011 and had a NT tax code for 12 months. I contacted them asking why it hasn't changed back and they replied saying they had now changed it.

All of a sudden my next wage had £600 in underpaid tax taken and left me with only £690.00 to pay my rent, bills, food and other living expenses. This doesn't cover it at all and when I rang they said there's nothing they could do. Ok I should have put some to one side but I didn't. Surely they have a duty of care, especially as they didn't write to me or contact me to explain this was going to happen.

HMRC even admitted I should be on a week 1 tax code and the underpayments should of been calculated at the end of the tax year. But they are still very unhelpful and say there's nothing they can do. Is there anything I can do to get them to sort this?

System

Unfortunately no since the cumulative code issued by HMRC has already been operated by the employer. I can only suggest a strongly worded letter of complaint pointing out that you have just come through bankruptcy and now HMRC's coding error has put you in a difficult position again. You might get some compension but it is unlikely to be enough to get you out of the difficulty they have put you in.