Tax rebate confusion

[Deleted User]

We've put in a claim for marriage allowance. To our pleasant surprise, HMRC backdated it, and said we'd get over 900 quid. Great.

Seperately, as I'm working from home due to covid, I've put in a claim for tax relief on my 6 quid per week expenses. I expected this to total around 60 quid. 

I've had a letter saying they're going to pay me 248 quid, which doesn't match either figure.

Any ideas? 

Jeremy535897

£248 is about what you would expect for one year's marriage allowance.

[Deleted User]

Jeremy535897 said:

£248 is about what you would expect for one year's marriage allowance.

Reading the letter again, I think you might be right. It doesn't specifically say its marriage allowance, it just says other adjustments or something. (I've just read it, but I have a short memory and it's not in front of me right now).

There is one line in the whole statement saying there's been an adjustment for marriage allowance.

Which begs the question, what will happen with the backdated claim? Do we think that will happen separately? 

Jeremy535897

Sometimes they pay the current year quickly, and forget the rest. You may have to remind them.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

HMRC don't backdate Marriage Allowance applications, they act on whatever application was made.

Most people are eligible for Marriage Allowance so nothing unusual in getting a refund for all 4 years however the applicant may also receive an equivalent tax bill for any years where the reduced Personal Allowance increases their liability.

NB.  HMRC check eligibility, not whether there is an overall benefit to you as a couple.

[Deleted User]

That is correct. After making the claim for the current year one is asked if there is a wish to make a claim for an earlier year - all completed on one submission.

Jeremy535897

[Deleted User] said:

That is correct. After making the claim for the current year one is asked if there is a wish to make a claim for an earlier year - all completed on one submission.

It doesn't mean they pay you all in one go, though. I am aware of a case where the most recent complete tax year was repaid within days, and the earlier three years have not, one year on.

[Deleted User]

Jeremy535897 said:

[Deleted User] said:

That is correct. After making the claim for the current year one is asked if there is a wish to make a claim for an earlier year - all completed on one submission.

It doesn't mean they pay you all in one go, though. I am aware of a case where the most recent complete tax year was repaid within days, and the earlier three years have not, one year on.

OK. I did, however, submit an application (on my wife’s behalf) for 2020/21 and added the two previous years. My code was adjusted for the current year with a repayment received fairly promptly for the previous two years. I guess the op will have to check if this has been overlooked.

[Deleted User]

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

HMRC don't backdate Marriage Allowance applications, they act on whatever application was made.

Most people are eligible for Marriage Allowance so nothing unusual in getting a refund for all 4 years however the applicant may also receive an equivalent tax bill for any years where the reduced Personal Allowance increases their liability.

NB.  HMRC check eligibility, not whether there is an overall benefit to you as a couple.

Well there website populated all the details as soon as we filled in our identity bit. There was a query over tax code so my wife phoned up, and was told by them that it was all going through.

Maybe if I don't hear anything in a, couple of weeks we'll give them a call.