HMRC say no tax relief on pension contribution as I'm a 20% tax payer

Kynthia

I wouldn't do a tax return but would write it in a letter referencing their own policy. If that doesbt work I'd write a letter of complaint. Someone who understands should become involved.

AandP

Many thanks to all, I will try one last time, quoting their own policy etc and reiterating that my pension company has not added any tax relief even thought this has been all said before. If no luck I will try it in a tax return but not sure how that will come out as in the P800 it already looks like they have concluded that I have already received tax relief.

Terry_Towelling

Go straight to the Complaints section with a letter. The first line of the address on the envelope should be 'Complaints'. You should also ask for the cost of your telephone calls to be reimbursed. I did this for £5.41 of calls that I shouldn't have had to make and got a cheque for £40. Ironically, BT then mucked up my phone bill and charged me nothing for the phone calls - but that's another story.

You will get it sorted.

BoGoF

AandP wrote: »

Many thanks to all, I will try one last time, quoting their own policy etc and reiterating that my pension company has not added any tax relief even thought this has been all said before. If no luck I will try it in a tax return but not sure how that will come out as in the P800 it already looks like they have concluded that I have already received tax relief.

There is a specific box on the tax return for such payments.....but if you want to do it the long way then a complaints letter is the way to go.

Lorian

BoGoF wrote: »

There is a specific box on the tax return for such payments.....but if you want to do it the long way then a complaints letter is the way to go.

I agree with you. three boxes for pensions contributions and one is the right one for the OP. I always fill in a tax return for this exact reason. It's all done online, not difficult.

westv

But if you don't complain how will their error in the information they have given out be corrected?

Dazed_and_confused

From the op's perspective it wouldn't need to be corrected.

The self assessment return would result in a repayment and then instead of the onus being on the op to prove he is due the relief the onus would be on HMRC to challenge the return if they believed it to be wrong.

TrickyDicky101

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

From the op's perspective it wouldn't need to be corrected.

The self assessment return would result in a repayment and then instead of the onus being on the op to prove he is due the relief the onus would be on HMRC to challenge the return if they believed it to be wrong.

But without highlighting the erroneous statements from the HMRC 'helpline' then there will be a lost opportunity for HMRC to improve their training/knowledge of the telephone staff. Of course, the complaint may not lead to improvements, but that isn't a reason not to make the complaint me thinks!

bluenose1

I know someone who works in tax office and majority of staff on phones are new, have had very limited training and just follow a script. A lot of the experienced staff have left and many managers are brought in without a tax background from other civil service departments.
If there was going to be anyone with any tax knowledge I would expect it would be on the complaints team. Make sure it is clear it is an official complaint.

Thrugelmir

AandP wrote: »

The pension provider is BlackRock and they said they would not be able to claim tax relief on my behalf as it hasn't gone through the normal payroll which my normal monthly pension contributions do and which they normally add tax relief at source.

Surely they offer a lump sum payment option. Struggling to believe that they don't.