Inland Revenue+R85 response.

ampersand

Hope this is in the right place.

I did not know until this year that my nil tax status for bank interest still needed renewal annually. Having attained pension age, I'd thought that was that.

Natwest sent off the R85 we filled in 3 months ago. I've written to HMRC twice since. Not even the courtesy of an acknowledgment.

Can anyone advise how to push this along please?

Thankyou in advance.

alanq

ampersand wrote: »

I did not know until this year that my nil tax status for bank interest still needed renewal annually.

Who told you that? My mother only filled in forms once per account and continues to get interest free of tax(including an account with NatWest). As far as I am aware it works until you or HMRC inform the bank that circumstances have changed.

Were you notified that HMRC had cancelled the previous R85? Have you moved to a different account?

This thread is a few years old but confirms my understanding
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/479505

ampersand

Thankyou alanq - NW told me when I queried it on new e a/c.

Thus explained, it seemed logical enough. As I write I'm hanging onto 01512102222, found as SayNo alt. no. to the 0845 on HMRC website.

NO, have never had anything from them.

alanq

To the best of my knowledge my mother got no confirmation back from HMRC or NatWest. NatWest sent the form to HMRC and then shortly afterwards monthly interest began to be paid gross. Is NatWest saying that interest on the new account is still paying net? The status of the account may have been updated just that no one has informed you.

ampersand

Right, finally had cast-iron info from competent HMRC lass.

You are right in every particular, alanq and that other Thread nails it exactly, albeit 6 years old.

I'll ask at Bank today to download an R40 and check up on 5 years' interest for reimbursement.

Lass said shutoff dates on HMRC reclaim chart don't apply as I have been of pension age since 2009.

Thankyou again.
########
Just found your follow up reply - yes, will also check whether changing interest each month also means changed status, not just an increase calculated on higher balance.
-Repeats 'Thankyou again' -with interest!

ampersand

For what it's worth, just went to e-savings a/c further info. and find this in deep-mined bumf:

'Tax Status Interest is paid after the deduction of 20% tax'

rb10

It looks as if it's Natwest causing the problems here.

They shouldn't have sent the R85 to HMRC. Natwest should be processing the R85 themselves, so that all future interest payments are made gross of tax.

I would suggest that you make a formal complaint with Natwest, asking why they haven't yet acted on your R85 and requesting that they do so and confirm that in writing to you. (You will quickly find out that Natwest are hopeless at dealing with even the most simple of queries, but making a complaint is generally a good way to get them moving).

The lady from HMRC was absolutely correct in telling you that tax over-paid in previous tax years has to be reclaimed via a R40. Send this straight to HMRC - Natwest don't need to see this.

xylophone

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/tax-free-interest.htm
How to claim tax back
If you think you've paid too much tax on your interest you can claim it back. To do this you'll need to fill in a form R40 Tax Repayment Form. You'll have to do this for each year you think you paid too much tax.
In most cases you'll get back the tax you've overpaid as long as you claim on time.
Time limits for claiming back tax
The time limits for claiming a refund are shown in the table below. If you don't make a claim within the time limit you'll miss out on any refund due.
Time limits for reclaiming tax
Tax year Tax year ended on You must claim by:
2009-10 5 April 2010 5 April 2014
2010-11 5 April 2011 5 April 2015
2011-12 5 April 2012 5 April 2016
2012-13 5 April 2013 5 April 2017

ampersand

Just in - again, thankyou all.

xylophone - I'd already noted this, hence raising it with HMRC lady[post 5].

rb10 - I visited a Cambs Branch today to nail the issue. Young male at first did the 'being patient with older female' voice. He was never discourteous, but produced the rote verbiage debunked by HMRC. When asked about this aspect, then that etc. on his screen, he repeated himself, flannelled a bit, said 'I don't really know', at which point I praised him for 'a straight sensible answer, your first' - said with a smile. We were then on good terms. He called manager, who could see entire history of saga on screen and has asked me to 'entrust the matter' to him, described by him as 'poor communication, lack of, rather - mismanagement and ignorance being displayed to an unacceptable degree at several levels. There's a training issue here.'
He could see at once all points raised. I didn't have to argue my case. To him it was self-evident. Being able to identify elements or portions of interest is essential. To be advised accordingly is professional competence and courtesy.
Mgr intends writing it up as a complaint, will send me a preview letter to approve, along with correctly filled R40 to send off. He intends recommending another goodwill gesture -the 2nd in relation to this a/c which was opened[eventually] 4 Jan this year, after several months of faffing.

I really appreciate the input from you all. I will stick with Natwest, having joined them from the Hell of A&L a few years ago, at a desperate time[OH's suicide]. A&L were stratospheres beyond contemptible; later adjudged to have behaved corruptly. With me, a minimal £roton in Natwest's financial universe, they without fail behave impeccably, even when things go wrong. I have had several goodwill gesture payments - so, yes, there is human error. I've made a few myself:-)

Besides, I have rugby talk with S and allowed him his wee gloat last year when I,[NZ]kindly allowed him[England]to beat us. There is real connection and kindness, which I value.

rb10

As you have found, Natwest make a lot of errors on accounts.

If you're happy to spend the time chasing around putting their mistakes right, then they are certainly not averse to making several goodwill gestures.

Two errors on an account in six months is pretty much standard for Natwest.

ampersand

We'll agree there, rb10 - and I've sought clarity on this since early April.
If I have to chase remedies, indeed goodwill gestures should follow. [Won't touch their profits though.]
In the end, I like the staff in my 2 most visited Branches and having known deliberate deceit, proven graft and worse from previous Bank, will take NW as they are, for their solid goodness and acceptance of me, with nothing, at a desperate and critical time.