Been an idiot and need help claiming HR Tax Allowance!

Rodders2409

Hello again,

Tried 6 times and wasted 2 hours of my life on hold, still trying to get to talk to the Tax office ...complete !!!!!!!

Can anyone advise the best way to tell them to apply the 2 years retrospective HRT allowance that I'm still allowed to claim for?

NoMore

I've had good success with the online chat

Rodders2409

Finally, I've just spoken with someone who was quite helpful but limited to what he can help with. Basically said for me to write in and they will be able to do the 2 years but maybe more. So worth a try I guess!

Dazed_and_confused

Not sure you have quite understood the process for claiming any additional tax relief.

In your first post you stated you have been completing Self Assessment returms so HMRC won't give you an extra relief without some quite specific actions on your part.

Some Self Assessment returns can be amended online however there are strict time limits for this so chances are you could currently only amend your 2016:17 return (which may not actually be relevent for you).

For years prior to this the only option you have is to claim overpayment relief which has much stricter conditions attached and can only be done in writing. I guess the stricter rules may be because you are effectively saying you filed an inaccurate tax return in the first place, albeit not one that was in your favour

This is explained on gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/corrections

Rodders2409

Hello Dazed,

You're right, I spoke to them yesterday and they said that I must write in for anything furtgher back than the last year. So I'm in the process of putting the letter together.

Does anyone know of somebody getting more back than the stipulated 4 years?...2 in my case because we started SalSac 2 years ago.
My guess is that I'll put together a lovely pleading letter for many years of me not claiming the additional 20%, but it will be directed to file 13 and I'll get nowt!

Dazed_and_confused

Going off this I wouldn't get your hopes up.

You could plead careless behaviour but I have a feeling that is intended for people who miss income off their tax returns, not pension contributions on which additional tax relief is due

https://www.rossmartin.co.uk/tax-guides/347-time-limits-for-assessment-and-claims

Rodders2409

Thanks again Dazed,

I sense you may be right.

Just wanted to thank all you guys out there who help out the likes of me in getting our heads around this stuff , it makes a huge difference on such important topics....so cheers!

BoGoF

You will be wasting your time trying to claim back beyond 4 years - legislation simply doesn't permit it I'm afraid.

Rodders2409

Thanks BoGoF,

Rather than waste time writing a begging letter, is there an easy way to claim the 2 years I'm entitled to, given that the other two years were on SalSac?

Or do I still need to write in?

Dazed_and_confused

I think the point you may be missing is that in HMRC's eyes you aren't simply claiming extra tax relief.

You have completed Self Assessment returns so you have to follow the process outlined here,
https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns/corrections

What should happen then is HMRC will compare the tax you originally self assessed with the position if the pension contributions were included and credit you with the reduction in your liability.

Remember you aren't entitled to an extra 20% just because you are a higher rate payer. If so that would mean you could pay higher rate tax on £1 and receive thousands in higher rate tax relief. The pension contributions simply increase the amount of basic rate tax you can pay which will in turn reduce any tax charged at higher rates.