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Refund of tax - twice
Rupieroo
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hi! This is my first time here and I hope that I explain myself and my issue.
I was unemployed from August 2010 - November 2011, when I finally secured a job. Sadly, I was made redundant May 2012 and remain unemployed.
On 2 May 2013 I received a payment of £543.80 direct to my bank account from Jobcentre Plus as a tax refund for 2012-2013. However, as an honest chap, I telephoned JCP to ask if this was really mine. Yes! Very useful indeed!
2 August I received a cheque from HMRC for £543.80 and a couple of days later paperwork indicating a tax refund for 2012-2013.
I telephoned HMRC (10 telephone calls in one day, at one stage on hold for 90 minutes! before finally speaking to someone). I explained I had already received a tax refund and that this was a duplicate. If only life were so simple - it seems honesty does not pay! I was told that no duplicate had been issued and that the payment from JCP must be different, and to check.
Back I went to JCP, who said it was nothing to do with them as all information is received from HMRC and so the payments must be different, and to go back to HMRC.
I telephoned HMRC. Several times. Eventually I was told that the information received from JCP does not indicate a tax refund was issued and that JCP cannot issue a tax refund until a claim is closed, not while it is still on-going. Yet the sums being the same indicated that the payments were probably the same. I had to check my P60 which did not indicate an "R", suggesting no refund had been issued. Please could I go back to JCP to check.
And so it has been for a month that I have bounced between HMRC and JCP, to massive Government departments, not willing to talk to each other, costing me money in telephone calls, both saying it seems likely the payment is the same, but that it could be different and to get the other department to verify this.
Just this morning I spoke again with JCP "nothing to do with us... information provided by HMRC... self-generating refund... "
While this extra £543.80 is a God-send, much needed and could easily be used on various bills, my fear is that anything up to four years down the line, HMRC could contact me to say an error happened and that I had to pay back the amount. Which might then be difficult. Or that I knowingly cashed a duplicate payment.
HMRC said if JCP issue a letter detailing a breakdown and providing that breakdown does not indicate a tax refund for 2012-2013 that I can keep the money. JCP say they cannot issue such a letter and that it is for HMRC to resolve.
I have been open and honest with both departments. I have done all the 'phoning and chasing. But neither seems able to confirm the second payment is a duplicate (and yes, my P60 indicates I had paid £543.80 income tax).
What more can I do? Has anyone any experience of this?
Thank you.
R
I was unemployed from August 2010 - November 2011, when I finally secured a job. Sadly, I was made redundant May 2012 and remain unemployed.
On 2 May 2013 I received a payment of £543.80 direct to my bank account from Jobcentre Plus as a tax refund for 2012-2013. However, as an honest chap, I telephoned JCP to ask if this was really mine. Yes! Very useful indeed!
2 August I received a cheque from HMRC for £543.80 and a couple of days later paperwork indicating a tax refund for 2012-2013.
I telephoned HMRC (10 telephone calls in one day, at one stage on hold for 90 minutes! before finally speaking to someone). I explained I had already received a tax refund and that this was a duplicate. If only life were so simple - it seems honesty does not pay! I was told that no duplicate had been issued and that the payment from JCP must be different, and to check.
Back I went to JCP, who said it was nothing to do with them as all information is received from HMRC and so the payments must be different, and to go back to HMRC.
I telephoned HMRC. Several times. Eventually I was told that the information received from JCP does not indicate a tax refund was issued and that JCP cannot issue a tax refund until a claim is closed, not while it is still on-going. Yet the sums being the same indicated that the payments were probably the same. I had to check my P60 which did not indicate an "R", suggesting no refund had been issued. Please could I go back to JCP to check.
And so it has been for a month that I have bounced between HMRC and JCP, to massive Government departments, not willing to talk to each other, costing me money in telephone calls, both saying it seems likely the payment is the same, but that it could be different and to get the other department to verify this.
Just this morning I spoke again with JCP "nothing to do with us... information provided by HMRC... self-generating refund... "
While this extra £543.80 is a God-send, much needed and could easily be used on various bills, my fear is that anything up to four years down the line, HMRC could contact me to say an error happened and that I had to pay back the amount. Which might then be difficult. Or that I knowingly cashed a duplicate payment.
HMRC said if JCP issue a letter detailing a breakdown and providing that breakdown does not indicate a tax refund for 2012-2013 that I can keep the money. JCP say they cannot issue such a letter and that it is for HMRC to resolve.
I have been open and honest with both departments. I have done all the 'phoning and chasing. But neither seems able to confirm the second payment is a duplicate (and yes, my P60 indicates I had paid £543.80 income tax).
What more can I do? Has anyone any experience of this?
Thank you.
R
0
Comments
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I wouldn't cash it if you know it's a double which it obviously is.
They will come back for it0 -
On 2 May 2013 I received a payment of £543.80 direct to my bank account from Jobcentre Plus as a tax refund for 2012-2013. However, as an honest chap, I telephoned JCP to ask if this was really mine. Yes! Very useful indeed!
You might consider cashing it, and placing it in a high interest account, leaving it untouched.
Unfortunately, there are none left.0 -
Yes, they will come back for it. Don't spend it, Send it back with a covering letter.
I thought only HMRC issued refunds. Im puzzled as to how the Job Centre did this.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
What was your gross salary for the tax year 2012-13?
What was the tax code shown on your P45 and the tax to date when the job ended?
What was the sum for gross taxable benefits for the tax year 2012-13?
Write to HMRC setting out the facts. Await their reply.
In the mean time, if you are convinced that the cheque does indeed represent a duplicate payment, it might be as well not to cash it.0 -
marliepanda wrote: »I wouldn't cash it if you know it's a double which it obviously is.
They will come back for it
Hi, thank you! This is my point. I believe that it is a double and have been honest with all concerned. But neither department are able to confirm it is a double payment, BOTH saying the other has to provide further information. And if it transpires that it is mine, then I can be putting it to better use paying bills!0 -
But if you do put it "to better use" and it is later discovered to be a double payment you will be liable to pay it back.Thinking critically since 1996....0
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If you only paid £543.80 tax, then that's your refund.
The chances of you being entitled to exactly that, twice? Nil.
This year as I worked for two companies I got a £70 bill from one and a £600 refund from the other. If I had got the exact same from
Both I'd have been suspicious0 -
Thank you all.
I have tried and tried to resolve this. I told HMRC that I would return the cheque to them, but they said it will be re-issued as their records indicate I am entitled to it. That's why I wrote here. I'm banging my head against the wall.
Perhaps I'll just frame the thing as the biggest lump of cash I've ever received without it being a wage. lol
Cheers0 -
I had a similar error in previous years where I received a repayment, I wasn't sure what it was for, but believed the Revenue were correct. They made an error and I had to pay it back, but only as an adjustment to my PAYE coding. So no worry about having to pay back a lump sum or anything, it was just like getting an interest free loan.
It may not be the "right" thing to do, but if you need the money to pay bills and are faced with going overdrawn or getting bank charges, interest, etc. cash the cheque.0 -
I had a similar error in previous years where I received a repayment, I wasn't sure what it was for, but believed the Revenue were correct. They made an error and I had to pay it back, but only as an adjustment to my PAYE coding. So no worry about having to pay back a lump sum or anything, it was just like getting an interest free loan.
It may not be the "right" thing to do, but if you need the money to pay bills and are faced with going overdrawn or getting bank charges, interest, etc. cash the cheque.
That's an interesting option. I will try HMRC again, once more. No one can say I didn't try!0
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