I'm sure there are plenty of "wrong tax code" posts on here, but this one's a little different. I'd really love someone's opinion or advice on this.
I got a P2 form from HM Revenue & Customs today. The letter tells me that as of the next tax year (April 6th 2013), I will be on tax code K208. I'm no expert on tax codes, but I recognise this is unusual and immediately call up to query it.
It becomes apparent quickly that this code is intended to pay back an underpayment (and a considerable one) from a previous tax year. I actually did have an underpayment from a previous year which I knew about (long story short - several years ago, I worked a second job part-time and was paid tax-free as if I didn't have a main employment elsewhere. Obviously this was wrong but I was too young at the time to realise the error. Looking into this last year, I see that they're right; I do, indeed, owe them money).
The problem is that I took the hit at the time and paid the underpayment in full by cheque. I wouldn't usually pay by cheque, but this was how I was advised to pay. I sent the cheque at the end of August 2012, and a few days later the money came out of my bank account. It was a bit grim but that was that - I forgot about it.
Now I've been allocated this tax code as if I hadn't already paid back the underpayment and they have no record, as such, of receiving the cheque (the cheque has been cleared from my account so presumably they have cashed it, just simply not in conjunction with any of my details). I'm told it probably hasn't been "allocated" but 5 months seems a long time for a payment to be unallocated.
So, I'm finding it a bit distressing. I have given them every piece of detail I can, from the cheque number and bank details to the day it was taken from my account. I'm told it will take 3 - 4 weeks to investigate and then someone will call me. There's no guarantee it will be good news! The last thing I want is to be be paying back something automatically through my salary that I have already paid last August.
I'd love to hear some views on this.
Carl
I got a P2 form from HM Revenue & Customs today. The letter tells me that as of the next tax year (April 6th 2013), I will be on tax code K208. I'm no expert on tax codes, but I recognise this is unusual and immediately call up to query it.
It becomes apparent quickly that this code is intended to pay back an underpayment (and a considerable one) from a previous tax year. I actually did have an underpayment from a previous year which I knew about (long story short - several years ago, I worked a second job part-time and was paid tax-free as if I didn't have a main employment elsewhere. Obviously this was wrong but I was too young at the time to realise the error. Looking into this last year, I see that they're right; I do, indeed, owe them money).
The problem is that I took the hit at the time and paid the underpayment in full by cheque. I wouldn't usually pay by cheque, but this was how I was advised to pay. I sent the cheque at the end of August 2012, and a few days later the money came out of my bank account. It was a bit grim but that was that - I forgot about it.
Now I've been allocated this tax code as if I hadn't already paid back the underpayment and they have no record, as such, of receiving the cheque (the cheque has been cleared from my account so presumably they have cashed it, just simply not in conjunction with any of my details). I'm told it probably hasn't been "allocated" but 5 months seems a long time for a payment to be unallocated.
So, I'm finding it a bit distressing. I have given them every piece of detail I can, from the cheque number and bank details to the day it was taken from my account. I'm told it will take 3 - 4 weeks to investigate and then someone will call me. There's no guarantee it will be good news! The last thing I want is to be be paying back something automatically through my salary that I have already paid last August.
I'd love to hear some views on this.
Carl