Tax advice

trampdog

Hi,

I left a company in December and by the middle of January I still had not recieved my P45. I called my previous payroll and they said they had not been informed of my departure. Therefore, everything I had been paid in December I would now owe.
I agreed that there would be no hassel and I would pay the money back.
I sought advice and was told that I could pay this back in installments. I therefore wrote to my previous company to state how much I would like to pay back over how many months and could they raise my P45.
I recieved an email back from them to state that they wouldnt accept my offer of installment payment without me delcaring my income, and they wouldnt send my P45 as the amount calculated on it would be wrong. They said I had to pay all of it back by this month's pay role or in two installments one this payroll and one next. When I spoke to HMRC this morning - they told me that they will write to the company and demand my P45 as they should be able to calculate how much was earnt up until the day i left and if they don't send it they will be fined.

As I said - I am willing to pay it back - and pay in a lump sum today if need be to get them off my back, but why is it made to be my mistake when the error clearly came from them, with someone not doing their job. Do you think I should hold out and continue with the installments or just get it done with? Its sad as I left on good terms and enjoyed the company - it just has made it very stressful with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Any comments would be helpful

Thanks

Tramp.