Self assessment idiots guide wanted

Shylock_249

Perhaps something to be added to the Idiot's Guide.

I submitted both my and my wife's 24/25 return and made the two payments each on account.

When the SA system showed as processed it showed, in both instances, that the payments we had both previously made to PAYE to balance the 24/25 account were NOT taken into account and the sums £1650 and over £2k should be paid by us by July.

I phoned SA for one of ours, the agent said I should phone PAYE but could (after a long time on hold) identity that the payment had been made and it should be "credited over" by July!

I phoned PAYE about the other account, they said I should phone SA, but identified that the payment had been made and said they would attempt to "credit over" the money by the end of April.

It makes you wonder just what sort of antiquated systems these agents must be using and what's more what would have happened if I hadn't contacted them and come July when HMRC said I had to pay the balance on account again, would I have been fined. I might still be, but I'll just have to hope that they do what they said they would do.