Tax-over payment / self-assessment

Nicto

I am terrible with understanding tax, any guidance would be appreciated…

I fill out Self-Assessment most years for Child Benefit reasons – otherwise I am PAYE, tax affairs generally uncomplicated etc.

My previous employer, who I left in late April 2016, used to give me private health care as a benefit.

 My current employer, who I joined in November 2016, does not give me any benefits.

Finally able to speak  to the tax office last week about something else. In passing, they mentioned my code since April 2016 did not reflect that private healthcare benefit had stopped back in 2016 (I was a bit confused by this and didn't ask the right questions, also on hold for more than an hour).

They have since adjusted the code.

Am I due a refund for the tax years since 2016/17? What form do I need to fill in? How far back can I claim? How do I work out how much to claim – or do I leave it to them?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

This seems the way to go these days: you can go back four years plus the current year!

https://www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund

Dazed_and_C0nfused

I would say no refund will be due as you have completed Self Assessment returns so presumably you didn't declare the (non existent) benefit and your tax calculation would already reflect the correct position.

This assumes you have completed Self Assessment returns for 2017:18 onwards.

Nicto

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Sorry, I am confused, I know I'm missing something...

I completed Self-Assessment both when I was with the company and afterwards, including till now.

When I was with the first company, I declared I was receiving the benefit on the form. When I was then working at the second company, I did not declare it as I was not getting the benefit.

Yet according to the tax office, they did not change my tax code after I left the first company to reflect that I was no longer receiving the benefit. The tax office have pointed out to me I was wrongly coded.

Surely I have been shortchanged? 

 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

So your P60 would show the extra tax deducted because of the benefit being in your tax code.

When you completed your Self Assessment return you presumably entered the tax figure from the P60 but didn't declare any company benefits.

As a result you have already received the benefit of the extra tax deducted via your Self Assessment calculation.