How to Apply for a Tax Refund from HMRC

Millions of people paid too much tax in the last tax year which finished on April 5th.
Are you one of those people who are now entitled to a tax refund?
Read on and find out!

1)  Find your final Tax Code for 2014 / 2015
If you haven't had it already, your P60 (the end of year statement) detailing your earnings in the job you were in on 5th April should be handed to you soon (and legally you have to have it by 31st May).  
If you had more than 1 job on 5th April you should receive a P60 from each job as long as you earned more than £109 per week or £473 a month at least for one pay period.
  
On your P60 you will find your final tax code.  If you don't have your P60, dig out your final payslip from the last tax year or your P45 from the last job you had.  Is the tax code 944L with nothing after it?  In that case it is unlikely you are due anything back (but read on as it might be worth checking just in case!).

If the tax code has an X or a "month 1" after it, it is possible you may be due a tax refund.

2)  Is your code different to 944L and do you know why?  
Perhaps you had 2 or more jobs and your tax allowance was split.  Perhaps you paid Basic Rate (20%) tax at one job and had all of your taxable allowance at another.
Perhaps you received taxable benefits in your job (health care insurance etc).
Perhaps you receive a pension as well as income from your job.

If it is different and you don't know why, call HMRC on 0300 200 3300 and ask them to explain.

3)  Check the Figures
It's always worth checking the figures on your P60, even if your tax code seems to be correct.

HMRC have a useful tax calculator on their website.   

4)   Contact HMRC
If you think a refund is due, hopefully HMRC are already aware too, but it's definitely worth letting them know that you know as they are not fond of sending out cheques!
Give them a call on 0300 200 3300 and tell them that you think you have overpaid tax for the last tax year.


Alternatively, you can write to them instead and enclose a copy of your P60, final payslip or P45.  
Send the letter to: 

HM Revenue & Customs

Pay as You Earn

PO Box 1970

Liverpool

L75 1WX

If you would like a FREE draft letter to send, please send an email to info@zestpayroll.co.uk and I will send you one.


PLEASE REMEMBER:  
It is up to you to keep HMRC informed if you change your name or address.  
If you need to update your information visit: 

www.hmrc.gov.uk/report-changes/individual/name-address.htm

©    www.zestpayroll.co.uk          May 2014

Zest Payroll Solutions - Claire Meredith

A while ago I wrote this piece for another blog: www.joannedewberry.co.uk so I thought I'd share it with you.  It's about a typical day here at Pennies 4 Parents and Zest Payroll HQ and the juggling act of running a business with 2 teeny "helpers".  I hope you enjoy it.

A Day in the Life of Zest Payroll Solutions

I don’t need to set an alarm clock anymore. 

I have one of 3 wake up calls:

●  Teeny Man (15 months) crying for his morning milk

●  Little Man (4) jumping on the bed

●  Little Man shouting “I’ve done a poo poo” at the top of his voice from the

    bathroom (this is not my preferred way to start the morning!)

So, with that it’s up and at it, desperately trying to get all 3 of us dressed and fed by 8.30.  For some reason the 20 minutes from then is always put on fast forward in a jumble of shoes, coats, choosing today’s must have cuddly companion and a suitable random object for today’s colour table at Pre-School.

With little man safely deposited, Teeny Man and I head home for a play.  If I’m really lucky, he will start to show his “I’d actually quite like a little nap please, Mummy” signs and I’ll swiftly settle him down and head to the Zest Payroll Solutions’ “office”.  I love that term!  My “office” consists of the computer desk and a multitude of shelves tucked away in the corner of the dining room.  I long for the day the boys can share a room so I can claim the spare room as my own.

I may have an hour to get my head into work mode.  With running payrolls for small/medium sized businesses and parents employing nannies, I am lucky in that the main bulk of work comes in during the last 2 weeks of the month as pay days are usually at the end.  There’s always other things to be working on though, be it marketing, making phone calls or doing the accounts and I’ve just started a new blog for parents too (www.pennies4parents.blogspot.com) so writing for that takes up lots of time.

 

After the Pre-School pick up and feeding the hungry monkeys, I sometimes have a little time after lunch to “pop back to the office” if I need to, while Little Man plays and the Teeny Man naps again (I am lucky having a very energetic baby who wears himself out a lot!).  If it’s something major I need to do, I’ll set Little Man up with some Play Dough or other dining table top friendly activity so that I can keep an eye on him and it’s actually rather nice to have someone to talk to.  Being a WAHM can be pretty lonely.

More feeding, bathing and story telling and it’s back to work for the evening.  This is when I most enjoy working – a couple of hours to really get stuck into it without any distractions (Daddy’s in charge then!). 

Life as a Work At Home Mum is hectic, but I love being around for my boys and wouldn’t want it any other way!

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