Quickest Way To Reclaim Tax For Current Tax Year

rloise

Hi,
I have been on a Basic Tax Code since I started my job in March. It's my first job in the UK. I called HMRC last month with the missing information and they updated my tax code. I received a letter with the updated tax code a week after my call but apparently they haven't yet notified my employer about the change so this month I paid 20% tax on my full income again. I only work a minimum wage job so I really can't afford to have that much money taken out of my paycheck. I will probably have to wait another month until the next payday to get my refund back through payroll. I will really struggle this month with so much tax being deducted. Is there any way I can get my tax back sooner? Can I claim it directly from HMRC? Will this take even longer? I really don't know what to do. I didn't exapact for me still being taxed on a basic rate this month seeing as I received the letter with my updated tax code weeks ago.

00ec25

it will take a lot longer to claim through HMRC.
Ask your employer for a payroll advance against the tax refund if you are struggling that much., otherwise wait until next payday.

rloise

Thanks. How long does it usually take for HMRC to notify employers about their employee's tax code changes. I find it very strange that I received a letter with my new tax code so quickly but my enployer has not been notified yet.

Dazed_and_confused

Your employer should have got their notification around the same time as you got yours.

It could be a timing issue with them getting the new code after the cut off date for them run their payroll for July but rather than wait till you get your August payslip you should ask your payroll if they have got the new code logged on their payroll records yet?

If not you'll have to go back to HMRC for an explanation.

For future reference this situation can be avoided by completing the new starter declsration, worst case scenario you would have been put on the emergency tax code which means you only pay tax on any (taxable) salary in excess of £988/month.

rloise

So my employer told me that they haven't received a tax code notice yet and that I should wait because it can take up to 6 weeks. That sounded strange to me so I called HMRC again. They assured me that they have notified my employer electroniclly about the change in my tax code. They should have had it on their system for 3 to 4 weeks now. I will now ask my employer to call HMRC to have my tax code confirmed once more. Can I ask for my overpaid tax to be paid to me straight away once they have updated my tax code in their system or do I have to wait for next month's payroll? It was clearly my employer' s fault for messing up and not updating my tax code.

Dazed_and_confused

You can ask but whether your employer is prepared to do this is another matter.

Normally I would expect them to make you wait until your next monthly payment but they may loan you the money in advance of that if it is clearly their fault.

Don't bank on them doing this though.

jimmo

Suggest you make absolutely sure that all concerned, your employer, HMRC and yourself, are all using the same details such as Tax Office Reference, National Insurance number, Payroll number etc, etc .
Even make sure that everybody is spelling your name correctly. The slightest inconsistency can cause a computer to say "No".