Help! Start new job TOMORROW - help needed asap re. tax codes

Bethio89

Hi, I'm a newbie here :hello: just after some quick advice re. tax codes:

I started a job on Thursday (6 Sep), working for a local museum on a relief "as and when" basis - the hours are very varied - I can get several shifts a week or none at all, but its an awesome job and I love it. Today, I found out that I've got another part-time job, this one selling furniture, for 20 hours at minimum wage + commission - I start tomorrow.

I am 23, have just finished Uni (but don't think my student loan repayments come into play yet as I'm not earning enough), and have NO CLUE whatsoever about tax. So I'm wondering, what is the best thing to do regarding tax codes? Very confused, especially as the museum job isn't set hours.

Also, does anybody know if I would be eligible for working tax credits?

Thanks in advance for your help! :j

Beth

Poppie68

I am afraid you wont get much say in your tax codes, it's down to the HMRC... as for WTC go onto Directgov and see if you fit any of the criteria.

Bethio89

I thought I could choose which job has what allowance, or something along those lines?

Poppie68

Your main job will normally be taxed using your 'personnal allowance' code, your 2nd job will be taxed using the BR code. So it looks like your new job will be your main job and your museum job will be your 2nd as it is casual.

zygurat789

Bethio89 wrote: »

I thought I could choose which job has what allowance, or something along those lines?

Yes you can tell HMRC how much of your total allowance (usually £8105 this year) to allocate to each employment. As a rule of thumb you should aim to pay tax in each employment so that at the end of the year you have not underpaid tax. If you stop one of these jobs before April and do not get another you will have to contact HMRC to have any surplus allowances transferred to the continuing job.

Poppie68

Yes but as her museum job does seem to be on a relief/casual basis isnt' it better for the OP to pay her personnal allowance on her selling job, as if the allowance is split and she finds herself with just the selling job she could be liable for an underpayment....i apologise if i have got it wrong.

zygurat789

Poppie68 wrote: »

Yes but as her museum job does seem to be on a relief/casual basis isnt' it better for the OP to pay her personnal allowance on her selling job, as if the allowance is split and she finds herself with just the selling job she could be liable for an underpayment....i apologise if i have got it wrong.

There is no absolutely right way of doing this, it is always a problem. The answer is to understand a bit and to keep an eye on each gross pay to date.
Surely it would result in an overpayment - nasty.

xylophone

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/check-multiple-codes.htm
http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/RPIPG001/RPIPS001/RPIPS006/REPAYMENT%20BOOK_2011_V1.2.PDF