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

Paternity Pay & Leave 2013 / 2014

New Dads (or the partners of new mothers) are entitled to 2 weeks Ordinary Paternity Leave when the baby is born and may be entitled to Ordinary Paternity Pay while they are away from work.

To qualify for Ordinary Paternity Leave, he must have been with his employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby is due.

He must also be either the:

• Biological Father

or

• Mother's husband or partner (including same-sex relationships)

He needs to let his employer know he wants to take paternity leave by the
fifteenth week before the baby is due.
A Self Certificate (form SC3) to pass to his employer can be printed off from the HMRC website:  

www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc3.pdf


Ordinary Paternity Leave should either be taken as 1 week or 2 consecutive weeks. It can not be split.

Paternity leave can not start until the baby is born and must be taken within 56 days of the baby being born.

 
Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay (OSPP)
If the father/partner qualifies for Ordinary Paternity Leave, and earns more than £107 a week, he qualifies for Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay (OSPP) too.
This is paid at £136.78 per week or 90% of his average weekly earnings if they are less than this.

Your Employer may offer additional Paternity benefits so check your contract and speak to your HR department.



Additional Paternity Leave & Pay
Since April 2011, fathers/partners also have the right to up to 26 weeks' Additional Paternity Leave if the child's mother has returned to work before the end of her Statutory Maternity Pay period. This is in addition to the 2 weeks Ordinary Paternity Leave they are entitled to.
He may also receive Additional Statutory Paternity Pay if the child's mother has returned to work before the end of her maternity pay period.
Additional Paternity Leave can be taken from 20 weeks after the child is born.
It must finish before the child's first birthday.
Additional Statutory Paternity Pay is paid at the same weekly rate as the OSPP and can be paid for a maximum of 19 weeks (to complete the Statutory Maternity Pay period of 39 weeks for the mother).  For more info see: www.gov.uk/employers-additional-paternity-pay-leave

Self Employed New Dads

Unfortunately, there is no paternity pay equivalent for self employed dads (which is rather unfair
I think!).

For more information visit:

www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave

Great websites for dads-to-be and new dads are:

www.dad.info

www.daddynatal.co.uk

Work Uniform Maintenance Tax Rebate

Have you worn a uniform as an Employee in the last 6 years?

Were you paying tax at that time?

Did you wash, mend or replace it yourself?

Then you could be eligible for a tax rebate!

If you have had to wear a uniform for work in the last 6 years and you are responsible for keeping that uniform washed and repaired, it is worth contacting HMRC to ask if you are eligible for a Work Uniform Maintenance tax rebate.

Even if your uniform doesn’t have a recognised logo but you only wear the clothes at work, it is worth putting a claim in.

I spotted this on www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate

Have a look at the original post for more information.

I have put together a couple of draft letters for people to download, edit and send to HMRC to make a claim.

If you currently wear a uniform and have had no other employment that you may be eligible to make a claim for in the last 6 years click HERE.

If you have had more than 1 job in the last 6 years where you have worn a uniform and may be eligible to make claims click HERE.

Please feel free to download, amend and send it to HMRC, but PLEASE let me know by commenting below and come back and tell me how you get on in a couple of weeks.

Good luck!