hmrc not with it

Reaper

Bigwheels1111 said:

£18,570 from Interest is tax free.

£  7,500 from room for rent Scheme, you do not even need to tell the tax man.

£  1,260 Marriage Allowance.

£27,330 Total. As such tax free.

Are there any I've missed ?.

Depends what you count. For example there's 30% income tax relief on any VCT investments, and pension contributions get income tax relief even if you are not paying any tax!

Ocelot

I sent them a letter saying I didn't owe any tax for 24/25 (due to lack of access to interest) yet the ignored my letter and have reduced my tax free allowance again. This was after a phone call when the person didn't understand and was just reading from a script.

poolboy

There's the basic sipp 3.6k, you pay 2.9k.  Hmrc add 700 gbp, I do this and have no pensionable income. Every little bit counts.

Kotokos

Hoenir said:

eskbanker said:

It's all these complexities that make it very difficult to construct a question that HMRC can answer with a simple yes/no, and it's always going to be a bit of a lottery phoning them and hoping that each party understands exactly what the other one is (and isn't) saying!

HMRC aren't there to provide a free advice service ( and later getting slammed for misleading or incorrect advice that the individul acts upon ! ). 

Quite, it's similar to asking sales staff advice on their high end tech gadgets at your local department store isn't it? It's not the done thing, they're there to sell you the goods not to advise you on them, just read the description that's normally displayed alongside the article and make your mind up!

lindabea

Kotokos said:

Hoenir said:

eskbanker said:

It's all these complexities that make it very difficult to construct a question that HMRC can answer with a simple yes/no, and it's always going to be a bit of a lottery phoning them and hoping that each party understands exactly what the other one is (and isn't) saying!

HMRC aren't there to provide a free advice service ( and later getting slammed for misleading or incorrect advice that the individul acts upon ! ). 

Quite, it's similar to asking sales staff advice on their high end tech gadgets at your local department store isn't it? It's not the done thing, they're there to sell you the goods not to advise you on them, just read the description that's normally displayed alongside the article and make your mind up!

I take your point, but it would be far better for HMRC staff or indeed sales staff as in your analogy, not to answer any questions which are beyond their understanding. Giving misleading and incorrect replies and making themselves sound that they know what their talking about is totally unacceptable and doesn't do anyone any favours.  

However, there was a time when sales staff knew their products and were able to answer technical questions.  It's what I call earning their commission.  I'm afraid these days there are few people employed who take pride in their work and exercise a sense of duty to provide an adequate level of customer service.   That goes for all public service organisations and private companies.

masonic

lindabea said:

However, there was a time when sales staff knew their products and were able to answer technical questions.  It's what I call earning their commission.  I'm afraid these days there are few people employed who take pride in their work and exercise a sense of duty to provide an adequate level of customer service.   That goes for all public service organisations and private companies.

The Consumer Rights Act expects retailers of goods sold within their premises to have enough knowledge to advise customers on whether the goods they sell are fit for a purpose they are made aware of before the sale is concluded, with a customer having a right to return if they are incorrect. A department store that cannot fulfil this basic requirement ought to close its physical retail outlets and move completely online. It would be better for all concerned. That said, I wouldn't expect a level of knowledge beyond what a typical consumer with access to the user manual would be able to figure out.

where_are_we

poolboy said:

There's the basic sipp 3.6k, you pay 2.9k.  Hmrc add 700 gbp, I do this and have no pensionable income. Every little bit counts.

To be correct - How much can I pay into a SIPP if I'm not working? Even if you're not currently working or have no earnings, you have a SIPP allowance of £3,600 each tax year. This would be a payment from you of up to £2,880 plus the 20% tax relief top up. HMRC would add £720 for the maximum contribution of £2880

redpete

Hoenir said:

eskbanker said:

It's all these complexities that make it very difficult to construct a question that HMRC can answer with a simple yes/no, and it's always going to be a bit of a lottery phoning them and hoping that each party understands exactly what the other one is (and isn't) saying!

HMRC aren't there to provide a free advice service ( and later getting slammed for misleading or incorrect advice that the individul acts upon ! ). 

They are certainly not there to provide an advice service as in the sort of advice an IFA might give you - i.e. their opinion on what would be the 'best' course of action for you to take. But HMRC are there to give you advice that covers matters of facts of UK tax regulations.

eskbanker

redpete said:

Hoenir said:

eskbanker said:

It's all these complexities that make it very difficult to construct a question that HMRC can answer with a simple yes/no, and it's always going to be a bit of a lottery phoning them and hoping that each party understands exactly what the other one is (and isn't) saying!

HMRC aren't there to provide a free advice service ( and later getting slammed for misleading or incorrect advice that the individul acts upon ! ). 

They are certainly not there to provide an advice service as in the sort of advice an IFA might give you - i.e. their opinion on what would be the 'best' course of action for you to take. But HMRC are there to give you advice that covers matters of facts of UK tax regulations.

Where are you sourcing this from, i.e. where is this obligation defined?

saajan_12

northernstar007 said:

i was telling the guy on the phone and he wasnt having any of it and said taxed from £1000, i give up in the end

What were you trying to achieve by getting somebody on the phone to agree with an answer you already believe is correct and which is clearly stated in the written communications?