Frump to Fab 2021

sugarbaby125

Hello Ladies, 
Chanie, you must have got a real shock. Even though you are implying that you will be able to repay the money that HMRC are demanding of you, I believe that you should do your best to talk to someone in your local Tax Office who deals with your PAYE. Then you can confirm that you actually owe this money or discover if this demand for payment of monies owed has not been generated because of human error. Also check with the HR department of the employer you were with in the tax year or years that you are supposed to have underpaid your PAYE. The mistake could have been with that HR department. 

My eldest son had an absolute nightmare journey with HMRC demanding money from him in error, but it took years for them to admit their mistake. They never actually admitted the mistake in writing. He was repaying the money in monthly instalments and suddenly last year no payment was taken one month. After many phone calls and being passed to numerous people within the Tax Office he finally got to speak to the right person. This person confirmed that HMRC would no longer be pursuing my son for any money. So serious mistakes do happen. There are others in my family who have had their own battles with HMRC. 

chanie

maman and sugar thanks for your kind words.  I am going to call HMRC tomorrow - I wonder if they purposely send the bad news letters to arrive on a Saturday, so you can’t do anything over the weekend.  

I accept that we have to pay taxes, it’s just frustrating that they cant get it right.  Although I have been doing interim work for a few years, my salary in those roles has stayed the same every month, so they should be able to get it right.

chanie

I called HMRC this morning.  The good news is that I have already been paying off the tax underpayment and the remaining balance will be paid off by the end of the financial year (2 payslips time).  The lesson I have learned is that I should be more diligent with HMRC.

Wednesday2000

HMRC still haven't taken out my cheque either. I was saying how useless they are to my husband last night and I just checked my bank account this morning. I know the post is bad at the moment but they were awful before the pandemic. I haven't got my PIP form back from the charity either, thinking about it, but at least that was only last week.

I have a GP phone appointment this morning and I'm waiting for my Superdrug delivery which should be today or tomorrow. My skin looks much better. I have stopped being so harsh with it and have been using the body butter (which is surprisingly good on the skin on my face) and then following that with my Green People SPF cream. I thought I should use that everyday even though it's winter as it probably protects against harsh weather too.

This is my 9th day without any wine. I was tempted to ask my husband to buy me some Friday night on his way home and then yesterday when I was near the off licence I thought it is Valentine's day so maybe I should get us some prosecco but I didn't. I'm going to see how long I can last for. I am eating more and I have gained weight but I think that might be the medication I'm on as well as it makes you sleepy and hungry. Oh well. My liver should at least thank me for not drinking for a while. I did eat pizza, garlic bread and half a tub of strawberry ice cream yesterday. I am going to go for a walk later and get some more steps in as that might be the reason too. It's warmer at last even though it's raining.

My plan for the week is to do some more cleaning, tidying and decluttering. I have been putting all the cardigans and jumpers that aren't warm/that I don't like to one side and I've been using them as pet blankets as it's cheaper than buying them new. The animals ruin them so quickly and they have been feeling cold with this weather too. I cannot wait until the charity shops open again. I have a mental list of what I need.

helensbiggestfan

Well done Chanie......glad you got it sorted.  Yes, you definitely have to pay due diligence with HRMC, and accountants too, for that matter.   I once got a "niggly feeling" when my husband received a tax demand . He was self employed and our accountant was supposed to be giving us "best advice". I thought the tax bill was high.  Spent two days trawling through everything, made an appt with the accountant, gave him a list of changes I wanted him to make and waited.  A couple of weeks later HRMC told me  I could ignore the current demand and a cheque was on its way for a refund.  A cool £2200.  Like you say Chanie, a salutary lesson in making sure you keep a tight hold on  the financial Reins and dont abdicate responsibility for your affairs, 

I once read that even Madonna, for all her immense wealth, insists on holding the reins on her financial affairs and won't let anyone sign cheques on her behalf.  

Just completed stage 1 of the loft clearance.  It's all piled up in the top bedroom now. 😂🤣.  Just having a little break and then I am going to sort it out and stack it all neatly so that I can then go through at my leisure and decide how to dispose if It all.  Sounds a faff but easier than trying to go through it whilst it's in the loft proper, more headroom and I don't have to be a contortionist to reach everything.  From now on the only things to be allowed in the loft will be Christmas decorations and some bits and bobs belonging to my son. 

Needless to say, I'm not exactly fabbed up this Mornjng,  in fact I look a right scruff.  😂

MrsPorridge

Years ago I worked in a school as  a teaching assistant.  After two years I got the dreaded letter from HMRC.  I had been paying tax but only for term time, when in fact I should have been paying for the whole year (as I was paid every month, but only for term time work).  It was very stressful, but all sorted in the end.  From that moment on I was like a hawk with future payslips from all future jobs and any discrepancy no matter how small I was on to payroll.

This morning I have sorted my cook books and have put 6 large ones aside for the charity shop.  I normally buy all cook books from charity shops and kind of use it as a bit of a lending library with payment!  Those I don't use I re- donate.

Some stuff is due to finish on Ebay later and it looks sunny outside, no rain for once (as yet), so I may take a walk to the post office this afternoon if its still dry.

Will make pancake mixture tonight ready to have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.

thepurplepixie

chanie said:

maman and sugar thanks for your kind words.  I am going to call HMRC tomorrow - I wonder if they purposely send the bad news letters to arrive on a Saturday, so you can’t do anything over the weekend.  

I accept that we have to pay taxes, it’s just frustrating that they cant get it right.  Although I have been doing interim work for a few years, my salary in those roles has stayed the same every month, so they should be able to get it right.

If you were working for more than one employer during the tax year there has probably been a mix up on a P45, don't know when the mistake happened but since payrolls went onto real time information you would hope it would get picked up but the new employer will use the information the previous employer gave them.  I've had issues in the past where a staff member has had a 2nd job and was using the full tax code so they were getting the benefits of their tax code twice.  If it goes on for a while it can add up.  Before real time information the tax office wouldn't know until they get the end of year figures from both employers, as you can imagine although the tax year ends at the start of April HMRC can't look at them all at once so it can be months later before they are audited.
In my working life I've spent far too much time on the phone sorting this sort of thing out for staff members.
Maman the sherry trifle was a success, your husband will have to get here fast if he wants some.
I've had a long hot shower this morning, washed my hair and done a bit of a pedicure.  Feeling almost human!

chanie

purple like you, I work in HR (although I’m not a payroll expert) so I understand the basics.  I thought that RTI would make things easier, but in my case, it hadn’t helped.

lessons i remember reading gossip in the papers about ‘tight’ celebrities who quibble over every penny.  But then, JK Rowling’s PA fraudulently spent £20,000 of her money, so it goes to show, you can’t trust anyone.

maman

Glad you got to the bottom of the HMRC problem chanie.😊

A couple of years ago I did a cull of Christmas decorations LL and relocated them in the under stairs cupboard instead of the loft. It's made life so much easier. I've even moved the few Advent things that I get out long before decorations (countdown calendar, festive tea towels etc) to an easily accessible drawer.  

Do you enjoy browsing through cookbooks for new recipes MrsPorridge?  I seem to find all of mine online now or occasionally from the free magazines you get in some supermarkets like Asda and Tesco. I've  just kept a couple of 'bibles' like Mrs Beeton and Good Housekeeping . I have a recipe box in the kitchen where all potential/new recipes go and then transfer them to a loose-leaf file (with plastic pockets) when a recipe is definitely a keeper. 

I'm going to go out for a walk today too. There's a 10% chance of rain but it's milder so we're going to make the effort. If my hair frizzes then so be it! 🤣 I've been getting a lot of sinus headaches lately which, although they respond to painkillers and decongestants, I'm sure are caused by being indoors too much with the CH on. I've put some light make up on today, even lipstick as I probably won't need a mask today. 😷

Wednesday2000

My husband just got a text about his first Covid vaccine so it is booked for next week. That was faster than I expected.

I have started watching Davina McCall's YouTube channel today. I saw she started it 4 months ago for women in middle age. I have only watched a couple so far but they are quite fun if anyone wants to look.

After saying about my constant Amazon ordering I did just get a few more bits, I got some leggings and a zip up knitted jumper. I also got some essential oils to do a hot steam treatment for my sinuses as I have problems with mine too Maman.

I had my telephone GP appointment so I am about to go for a walk now. I feel quite full of energy today after feeling very sluggish all last week.