How do you ensure tax is paid to IR?

mountainofdebt

I know this sounds like a daft question but how can an employee ensure that any tax & NI deducted under PAYE is paid?

The reason for asking is that I know my employer is several months behind in paying over the PAYE contributions.

I know that End of Year returns have to be completed but if - for example - it transpires that say £10K is owed to IR and has not yet been paid how long ar the employers given to pay this £10K?

I jsut want to make sure that if I left this employment I wouldn't lose any entitlement to future benefits jsut because my current employer hasn't passed on my deductions!

sneekymum

I would ring the tax office and ask them...

Bossyboots

This raises a very interesting point. I think though, if the deductions are made on your payslip you can consider them as paid and it is the employer who will have to make good the payment. If however you are paid in cash with one of those little brown envelopes and receive no pay slip you have no way of proving the deductions were made and then you may be in difficulties.

I would certainly check with IR though and bring to their attention your concerns about contributions not being made after they are deducted from you.

ctm_2

If your payslips show that tax and NI have been deducted from your earnings, then you don't need to worry. Your part is done. Your employer has kept back that amount to pass on to HMRC.

If they haven't done that, then it's their problem, and them who will be chased for the money.

If you feel that they aren't operating PAYE correctly, then ring up and tell HMRC. You can do it anonomsly.

mountainofdebt

Thanks Guys.

We're given 'proper' payslips showing deductions etc so on that score everything is above board.

I'm not too bothered at the moment as I know I can keep an eye on the situation (have an informant in the accounting department!) but I don't want to be affected simply because the company have been lax about paying the PAYE etc.