How does HMRC refer to tax years?

donglefan

For example, is the "2017 tax year" as defined by the revenue, the tax year that begins in 2017 or ends in 2017?

flaneurs_lobster

Can you show the whole quote? Don't think HMRC would use ambiguous terms such as this, they always refer to the start and end dates (say 6th April 23 to 5 April 24).

Dazed_and_C0nfused

donglefan said:

For example, is the "2017 tax year" as defined by the revenue, the tax year that begins in 2017 or ends in 2017

I don't think they would normally refer to it like that.

It would usually be 2016-17 or 2017-18.

Or 16-17 or 17-18.

donglefan

I asked to pay back to 2013, and received a reply telling me I am too late to pay back to then (!?) but I can pay for the following, so not sure whether these are 'starting' or 'ending' year dates, ie whether 2017 referred to is 16/17 or 17/18:

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Must be different in the National Insurance world!

p00hsticks

donglefan said:

I asked to pay back to 2013, and received a reply telling me I am too late to pay back to then (!?) but I can pay for the following, so not sure whether these are 'starting' or 'ending' year dates, ie whether 2017 referred to is 16/17 or 17/18:

The weekly amount being quoted in that letter is the Class 2 amount for the self-employed and those abroad. 
So the comment about not being able to go back any further may relate to that particular rate and your individual circumstances. It should certainly be possible to pay for years as far back as 2006-7 until the end of July, but possibly at Class 3 rates. 

Sarahspangles

donglefan said:

For example, is the "2017 tax year" as defined by the revenue, the tax year that begins in 2017 or ends in 2017?

The Income Tax Act 2007 Part 2 Chapter 1 Section 4 says

(4) “The tax year 2007-08” means the tax year beginning on 6 April 2007 (and any corresponding expression in which two years are similarly mentioned is to be read in the same way).

But I’ve noticed the usage you quote is increasing in financial reports, and it’s the tax year that begins in 2017. It’s not ambiguous where it’s clear a tax year is referred to because they’ve started on 6 April for a couple of centuries now.  But it could cause confusion if a reader thought it meant the calendar year 2017.

dunstonh

When I pay the NI & tax each month for the payroll, HMRC use the later part of the year.  i.e. if for month one of the current tax year you have to use 2401.

Not saying that is the case here but it may show inconsistencies depending on the context.

Bimbly

My interpretation of "52 weeks to the tax year 2017" would be the tax year 2016-17.

As it's the 52 weeks (year) up until when the next tax year starts in 2017 (April).

Which makes sense when you realise the NI pension credits system changed in 2016 at the end of the previous tax year.

uknick

Not sure where the confusion is, the actual self assessment tax return at the top right says;

"Tax Return 2023

Tax year 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 (2022–23)"

Looks like they covering all their bases 

Sarahspangles

uknick said:

Not sure where the confusion is, the actual self assessment tax return at the top right says;

"Tax Return 2023

Tax year 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 (2022–23)"

Looks like they covering all their bases 

So HMRC are using both approaches! As in another thread the OP said they had confirmed that 2017 meant tax year 2017/18. And yesterday I was in a meeting with an accountant and asked her what the convention was and she just rolled her eyes and said ‘Best to stick to 2023/24 (for the current year)’