Have I been unfairly taxed?

ah23

I started a supermarket role in October 2014 during my last year of university, for the first two months I was charged "tax" at £70.00 per month, I don't get why because it's only a part-time job at 17 hours per week. But then after the two months, the tax deductions stopped and my tax code automatically changed (yet no refund on the tax I had already paid).

Then, in random months, I had been paying "AOE", I have never heard of this in my life and have no idea what it is or what it means. I did some brief research on google before making this thread, and it mentioned something about repayments, but I have never taken a loan out in my life or had any problems with money and owing other people/companies.

Then I was charged National Insurance tax for just 1 month and never again, which makes me assume this was unintentional also.

I've only just checked my wage slips tonight from October 2014, hence why all these tax issues are being raised now... I'm a university student and have no idea why I am being taxed, I read that you are only taxed if you earn above £155 per week, and I have never earned that in my time at the supermarket.

Am I entitled to getting all of these payments back?

Please advise, thanks

marliepanda

You were probably on emergency tax for the first couple of months until your tax code was sorted. Was it 20%? You will get that back.

NI is totally separate. Was it taken on your highest paid month out of your time there? NI won't be repaid.


AOE is usually attachment of earnings, but may have another meaning. Were you overpaid by the supermarket at any point?

xylophone

You were employed in the tax year 2014-15 and 2015-16?

Try here http://www.listentotaxman.com/

http://www.sayersb.co.uk/tax%20rates/ni.html

http://taxaid.org.uk/guides/information/an-introduction-to-income-tax-national-insurance-and-tax-credits/national-insurance/national-insurance-for-employees-and-employers/national-insurance-thresholds

With regard to AOE, ask your employer.

Darksparkle

The £155 per week you refer to is for NI, not tax.

You refer to October 2014 which was in the 2014/15 tax year. The NI rates that year was £153 per week.

That means if you earned any more that £153 per week (or equivalent if paid monhrly) then you'd pay 12% NI on any amounts over that.

NI is looked at each pay period rather than tax which looks at the whole year.

So for the specific month you refer to paying NI you'll need to check how much you were paid.

For tax, you had a personal allowance of £10,000. This means no tax is due if your total taxable income from all sources for the tax year is less than £10,000. So look at your total income for the tax and your total tax paid for the year.

As mentioned, you'll need to ask your employer about the AOE.

tgroom57

Further to the above replies, tax refunds used to be automatic, but they are not automatic now.
Check at the end of the tax year and if you find you are due a refund of tax,( easily calculated once you know your total earnings) then write to the tax office and ask them to confirm.
You should have had a letter from the tax office when your tax code changed, use this address.

ah23

Thanks everyone. I have mentioned the AOE payments to my employer and they are currently looking into it now, I will be seeking weekly updates so they don't try to fob me off!

ah23

marliepanda wrote: »

You were probably on emergency tax for the first couple of months until your tax code was sorted. Was it 20%? You will get that back.

NI is totally separate. Was it taken on your highest paid month out of your time there? NI won't be repaid.


AOE is usually attachment of earnings, but may have another meaning. Were you overpaid by the supermarket at any point?

Thanks marliepanda. I called HMRC yesterday and they're looking to give me a tax refund. With regards to AOE, I have mentioned it to my employer yesterday who said they'll look into it. I only spoke to my manager, should I contact head office about this too, or wait till I hear a response from the manager? Thanks again )

Darksparkle

It depends on how your employer works as to whether your manager could tell you about the AOE. If he's said he'll look into it is give him a few days to do it.

With my employer, my manager has no info on my pay and no control over it. It's all done by payroll and all queries would go to them.