Check Your Tax Code - You May be due a Refund!

Many of you will be receiving your payslips today, but just how many of you actually pay attention to them?  You probably know roughly how much you take home each month, but when was the last time you checked your tax code?

747L 

The current “normal” tax code is 747L (which gives you a tax free annual allowance of £7,475).  Your tax code may differ from this for a number of reasons:

• You have more than one job.
• You receive employee benefits from your employer (or had done so from a previous employer) such as a company car or healthcare insurance for example.
• You have outstanding tax from previous tax years.
• You have started a new job and haven’t handed in a P45 or completed a P46 form.
• Your P45 from your previous job had the wrong code.
• You receive a pension along with your salary.

If you tax code does differ to the “normal” code but you don’t know why, get in touch with HMRC and tell them that you think your tax code may be wrong.  You can phone the Employee Helpline on 0845 300 0627.  They will be able to explain what has affected your code or be able to investigate.

Another thing to look out for is if your tax code has an "X" , “Month 1” or “Week 1” suffix after it.  This means that your previous earnings and tax paid in this tax year are not being taken into account.  This could be for a number of reasons.

Often, the suffix arises after you start a new job and you’ve completed a P46 form.  747L X is most commonly used in this situation as it’s the “emergency tax code”.  If it’s still on your payslip phone HMRC as ask them if a cumulative code can be issued as soon as possible. 

It is possible there is an error with your code and you have over paid tax.

If this is the case, ask HMRC to issue a P6 notice with the correct coding immediately to your Employer.  If they receive it before your payroll is run in March, you could have a nice tax refund in you March payslip!


Alternatively, if you think there is a problem with your tax code you can send a copy of your P60  when you receive it in April or May (or P45 if you leave your job before April 6th) to HMRC along with a covering letter to ask them to check your tax code and amount you have paid this year.  


Send it to the address on your most recent correspondence for HMRC or to:

HM Revenue & Customs

Pay As You Earn

PO Box 1970

Liverpool

L75 1WX

For more information about checking your tax code and a handy tax code checker, visit the Money Saving Expert site. 

You can also find useful info on the HMRC website.

FREE Things to do over Half Term!

Half term arrives next week for many schools (arrgghhh!) so this week I thought it would be good to get together a load of ideas for fun FREE things to do with the kids.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed!        

    

  

●        “Go on a winter 'treasure hunt' & make a collage/winter display when you get home (after a warming hot chocolate!)” 

Lorraine @beindemand

●        “Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth is free and fabulous.” 

Julia @mrandmrswalder

●          Visit your local museum.  Taunton and Exeter’s have both recently been re-opened and are well worth a visit!

●          Visit your local library – check for half term activities too.

●          Grab your wellies and go on a muddy puddle walk/sludge adventure!

●         @NEDayCrafts are running free craft workshops in Durham Market 14th -16th February inc. puppet and card making.  www.nedaycrafts.com

●          If it’s too cold for it at the park, dig out your picnic rug, make some sandwiches and have a picnic in the living room!

●         Do you have a railway bridge close to you?  My young sons love to go and wave at the trains as they pass underneath! 

●         Some National Trust Estates, such as Wallington and Cragside in the North East are holding a free entry week.  Check www.nationaltrust.org.uk for details for your local area.

●         Arrange a “play over swap” with your children’s friends.  It should give you a bit of a break too!

●         Taunton Mums and Dads: “YMCA in Lisieux Way, Taunton, have a free family day on Monday 10-2, fire engine, face painting etc”

Emma, SomersetTupperware 

●        "Feed the ducks, do some painting / colouring / other craft stuff, read books, do puzzles, go for a walk and splash in puddles...”

Georgi @starfishaccounts

●         “Have a themed day around a fave story. EG The Gingerbread Man - start off reading it, make Gingerbread men, arts & crafts, treasure hunt to follow the gingerbread man's journey etc. Could link with any story."

            Georgina @GemWriting

●         "For those near London The Southbank have a Family festival on with lots of free events. Check out Waterstones too. Ours has lots of free storytelling and book based activities on next week."

            Joanne @Actoneparties

            You may be able to do a bit of this too!

There are some other great blogs full of ideas too:

www.kidstravel2.com

           

www.babybudgeting.co.uk

Please feel free to leave a comment below with your ideas or information on a free event in your area.  

Have fun! 

Social Media Outsourcing - Angeline Coupland

One for you business parents this week - more on a saving time theme!  I'm handing over to Angeline Coupland of @networkerplus who tells us all about their Social Media Outsourcing service.  

One of the most popular services @networkerplus Social Media offers is outsourcing.          
As we always discuss strategy with our customers, we can share the top reasons why you decide to do this and why you choose us.

3 key reasons for outsourcing social media

Time – You have come to the realisation that, to get real and measurable results, time is one of the biggest enemies when it comes to social media. You know you need to do it effectively and want a trusted partner to execute effective social networking.

Focus – You want to focus on what you are best at and outsource the marketing activities you know true specialists can carry out more effectively than you can through strategising. (Remember the saying "on" rather than "in" your business?)

Results – You have tried social media with no or little success, however, you appreciate others have the experience, achievements and the right mindset to achieve what you require on your behalf.

Why businesses outsource to @networkerplus
Having asked our customers, here are just five key reasons –

Reputation - You either know us already or have heard we deliver and practice what we preach.

Transparency - Social Media is transparent and we love that! You have checked us out and like what we do for our business on social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, etc. You’re assured we have the experience and proof that we can build networks and engage.  So many self-declared ‘experts’ out there, talk but don’t walk social media, let alone strategically. (For example, how many Web Designers say they ‘do’ social media however, when you check your LinkedIn, and Twitter activity, you find another story!...and what about blogging? – Active or passive?! What are they saying across the various social networks?      

Value Add - You also like that we do what we do best - social media and only social media. We don’t bolt on social media to our core services. Social media is our core business. Additionally, with over 25 years commercial & award-winning experience, (16 years in e-business), you know you are getting real expertise when it comes to planning and strategising with us.

Contacts & Intellectual Property - We have trusted contacts overseas who help us keep ahead on what’s going on strategically in this fast paced industry. We have also invested in the business and are able to demonstrate how and what when you plan with us. When you hear what we can do for you, you realise it's time to invest and stop continuing to spend copious amounts on time and money on expensive (or even cheap!) training sessions and simply dabbling.

Guarantees - @networkerplus we guarantee everything we do. Yes, that’s correct – everything!  We know there’s a lot of hype and many who have jumped on the social media bandwagon. When you outsource through us, and in the very unlikely event that we don’t achieve what we agreed to do, you get your money back. (Terms apply. Details available on request). That’s how committed and passionate we are about your business. You simply love the assurance that we’re not only a trusted partner, we also have a proven and award winning mindset.

For more information about us, have a browse at our website www.networkerplus.net  However, more importantly, see our active activity across our social networks. We know it speaks for itself because that’s what you tell us.

Feel free to contact us for a free 30 minute, no obligation telephone consultation, to hear how we can help you gain more time, more focus and more results for your business!

Check out www.networkerplus.net and click on testimonials!

Contact Angeline or John on 0800 988 6181 or 0766 414 0383 or register online for our complimentary FREE Strategy session worth £147!

©  @networkerplus Social Media