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

atush

In future, you can get aroud black rocks policy by opening a new separate cc pension, a sipp or pp. Deposit into that and hey presto.

Tax relief will be added.

As a side note, not ever had a problem adding extra funds to employers pensions. But we have never had salary sacrifice.

AnotherJoe

I sugegst you write a short letter to your MP outlining the issue.

Hopefully that will get a result by having someone with more than 2 brain cells in HMRC look at your situation.

Camster

AnotherJoe's suggestion about contacting your MP is a good one.

I was appealing a tax credit decision that had been lodged at the beginning of May, each time I called to check it's progress I was told there was no decision, and there was no time limit for a decision to be made.

In frustration with the lack of progress, I contacted my MP's constituency office who contacted HMRC about it, and my appeal was processed and granted the same day.

xylophone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74496383#Comment_74496383

Post 25 - is this relevant to your situation?

bluenose1

AnotherJoe is right.Years ago when I worked in the Civil Service we had our most knowledgeable staff on MP and Ombudsman correspondence. The responses were then checked by a Senior Manager to confirm they were factually correct.
You must be so frustrated.

OldBeanz

Written about this before but I made a payment into the CSPS and HMRC did not understand that I was due tax relief (you are limited to he amount of tax you have paid). The person dealing with the matter would have been a member of the same scheme. Persevere - you will get there and next year it will seem trivial.

AandP

Quick update, after another 20 mins wait to be answered on the phone then when finally answered only to be cut off. I tried again and spoke to some one from the 2nd line "technical team", what a joy it was to speak to some one from HMRC who actually agreed that I am entitled to the tax relief. I was told that I would need to be sent an updated P800 refund form as the old one was now incorrect due to some one in HMRC assuming that I had already been paid the relief even though I had sent proof that I had not. Apparently once that part is correct I can then claim for the tax relief on the original £14,000 contribution. At least now I know which team to ask for as the front line phone answerers and even their managers are woefully and neglectfully uneducated. I'll keep this thread updated with any progress as it may help any future people in a similar position. I will also be making an official compliant once this is all over to try and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Without all your advice and help, and had I believed what I was told by HMRC I would be down by £2800!

drphila

AandP wrote: »

as the front line phone answerers and even their managers are woefully and neglectfully uneducated. I'll keep this thread updated with any progress as it may help any future people in a similar position. I will also be making an official compliant once this is all over to try and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Without all your advice and help, and had I believed what I was told by HMRC I would be down by £2800!

Glad you seem to have got it sorted.


As a slight aside, I found that how you respond to the automated voice, can determine who you get through to. Say something simple and you get thro to a general customer representative. Say something more complicated and you can get through to (what used to be a called) an actual tax inspector.

AandP

Update, I now have an extra £2800 in my bank account after HMRC finally paying me the tax relief. "All" you need to do is speak to some one from 2nd line technical and hey presto a few days later a P800 over payment of tax letter arrives.
Due to the problems I had with previous phone calls and letters telling me that I was simply not entitled to it, I will be making a formal complaint. Had anyone read the letters and listened to HMRC without the help and advise from this board they would be down a considerable amount of money. And as for the HMRC agent telling me I and anyone who is a lower rate taxpayer simply doesn't get tax relief on any sort of pension contributions despite me trying to explain otherwise, who then proceeded to tell me "of course I know what I'm saying is right, It's my job!" Well I hope they can trace that phone call and agent and relive him of his job!

Thanks again for all your help.

Dazed_and_confused

Thanks for the update. Shame it was so convoluted to sort out but correct result in the end!!