Taxman and Pensioners

Jinito

Hi
I am just looking for some advice please.  
My dad is 91 and has had vascular dementia for about 6/7 years.  I looked after him for 3 years and he has been in a carehome for the past 3/4 years.  Last year there was a letter in his room addressed to him with the carehome address.  It was for a tax code and had a marriage couples allowance on it.  I contacted the HMRC about it as he has been single for some years.   I had to send them the power of attorney before they would deal with me and also a gp letter.  They kept these for months and i had to keep chasing for them.  I eventually got the poa back without the gp letter.  I asked why they couldnt photocopy it and return the original as the poa is nothing without this.
Anyway that was the least of the problems as i have now received tax letters about money my dad owes.
These are simple assessments

21/22        £913.95

22/23        £945.45

23/24        £1047.56

24/25        £1109.60
Another letter says for 25/26 he owes an estimated amount of £938 but they will adjust his tax code to get this back.  His tax code will change from S510T to SK51X.
My dad does have some savings.  His monthly income goes on his carehome.  The council pay towards his care also.  They know about his savings and they worked everything out.
I hold my hands up as i didnt think about sending the poa to the taxman sooner as i didnt realise my dad paid tax.  I dont think though that he should be penalised with having vascular dementia as i think he probably had it longer before it was noticed.  He went through a phase of hiding and binning things such as letters.  Also in the carehome his glasses and watch have gone missing so anyone could have lifted any previous letters he may have been sent.This is definitely a case where honesty was not the best policy.
Anyway i would appreciate any advice you could offer. 
Thanks 

eskbanker

Trying to distil that down to a specific question, are you concerned that the tax calculations may be wrong, or do you accept their accuracy but just feel that it's unfair to pursue arrears?

Albermarle

His monthly income goes on his carehom

It could be useful if you could provide details of his monthly income- amounts- source etc., as presumably this will be what is being taxed.

Jinito

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860206#Comment_81860206

I do think its unfair. I am going to contact citizens advice to see what they say also.

Jinito

He has a works pension so it must be that but i think its the fact he was getting married couples allowance that he has to pay back.

eskbanker

If he was receiving an allowance that he wasn't entitled to, then (from the perspective of other taxpayers) why is it unfair that he's expected to repay it?

HMRC can normally go back four years to reclaim underpaid tax, so it looks like that's what they've done here, but how long ago did his wife die, and was it him or you who dealt with the authorities regarding that?

Isthisforreal99

Why on earth do you think he is "being penalised"? HMRC are not mind readers and won't know if married allowance was no longer due.

Are the figures shown on the tax calculations cumulative or stand alone? Normally they wpuls be cumulative and if so the bulk of the tax owed came from 2021-22, or perhaps earlier from a carried forward underpayment.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860339#Comment_81860339

Simple Assessment would be each year individually.

sheramber

Do the simple assessments show the previous year’s underpayment brought forward and added to following year meaning the total due is £1109.60?

Hiw much is his total income and the amount of tax deducted for each year?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860381#Comment_81860381

Those figures look broadly in line with the yearly value of Married Couple's Allowance, which is still quite generous for those eligible.

Certainly far more generous, for most, compared to Marriage Allowance.

Brie

If there is a plus side to this if dad has less income/savings then the council will need to pay more for his care. Make sure you let them know.