P55 Online Form - Delays?

GSP

I withdrew a taxable lump sum up to my personal allowance in April. Because of the way my tax code is calculated, HMRC then keep around a third of it as tax, and that’s when I use the P55 to claim this back.

After completing the form online, estimation of completion was 11th May. On the 13th I contacted HMRC to try to find out what was going on, when to expect the money so I could manage expectations this end to pay bills etc.

The response was they could not tell me when I would receive the money (covid was mentioned as a reason to delays). When I asked how long are delays now, 1 week, 1 month etc and after being put on hold they did not know and absolutely no estimation was given.

I’m not quite ‘desperate’ for this money yet, but it won’t be too long before I have to seek finances to tide me through.

Anyone have any knowledge what is going on?

xylophone

Even at the best of times you might have expected  some delay,  especially at the beginning of the new tax year. 

However, we now have the universal covid excuse to explain every dereliction of  standards in the administration of public services.

New passport or driving licence anyone?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10755237/Boris-threatens-privatise-Passport-Office.html

GSP

xylophone said:

Even at the best of times you might have expected  some delay,  especially at the beginning of the new tax year. 

However, we now have the universal covid excuse to explain every dereliction of  standards in the administration of public services.

New passport or driving licence anyone?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10755237/Boris-threatens-privatise-Passport-Office.html

Thanks. Yes probably not a good time of the year and should ‘expect’ some delay.
And also probably wasn’t a good day to ask as it was on the announcement of civil servant job cuts.

Still, doesn’t pay my bills and thought I would enquire.

dunstonh

In normal times it would take around 1-3 months.   With many parts of the public sector still not returning to pre-coronavirus working levels, it has moved closer to 6 months.

In many cases we have done, where there was a net need of money in the short term, we have made sure the amount drawn was the required level after month 1 earnings because it takes so long to get the money back at the moment.

GSP

dunstonh said:

In normal times it would take around 1-3 months.   With many parts of the public sector still not returning to pre-coronavirus working levels, it has moved closer to 6 months.

In many cases we have done, where there was a net need of money in the short term, we have made sure the amount drawn was the required level after month 1 earnings because it takes so long to get the money back at the moment.

Many thanks dunstonh.
That’s a question I asked about possible timing so at least I could try to manage expectations my end.
It’s taken you to provide that information, rather than hearing from the horses mouth itself.
At least now I know what not to expect which will change my actions in the coming months.
Thanks again!

Somebody

I think it depends on who you speak to.  I would persevere and call HMRC again and ask them to check and process the refund.

molerat

The current best practice method is to take the minimum taxable amount, usually around £1048, so no tax will be deducted.  HMRC will then quite quickly allocate a tax code and you can go on from there depending on your personal circumstances.

dc19

I did exactly the same last year. Claim form last week in April. Received tax refund 14th June.
Did same this year. Completion date 17th May but not expecting it until 2nd week June at earliest

Marcon

Somebody said:

I think it depends on who you speak to.  I would persevere and call HMRC again and ask them to check and process the refund.

Which will simply slow down the process even more as they deal with the call. The likely response is that they are dealing with queries in the order they receive them, which is entirely fair, rather than responding to those who shout the loudest and most often.

OP, try https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-hmrc if you really want to cheer yourself up (not!).

Thrugelmir

The HMRC receives a bulge of tax returns in April . This year was yet another record with 66,500 self assessment forms being filed on the 6th April. A pipe can only carry so much water..........

GSP

dc19 said:

I did exactly the same last year. Claim form last week in April. Received tax refund 14th June.
Did same this year. Completion date 17th May but not expecting it until 2nd week June at earliest

I thought last year went through on time, but checking back it didn’t. The same time I applied and received as you, so the second week in June is the very earliest to expect anything.