Self Assessment Statement - question!

[NiceCupOfTea]

OK, like a good little trooper I did my tax return, submitted, was told what I needed to pay, and paid it in full by Jan 31st (part was the remainder of tax due for 08-09, and part was "on account" for 09-10). OK, no problem.

Fast forward to today: statement from the Revenue saying:

IR Self Assessment Statement said:

29/1 - Payment - thank you : <the large amount that I paid>
31/1 - Balancing payment 08/09 due : <small amount>
31/1 - 1st payment on account for 09/10 : <fairly small amount>

Amount to pay : <reasonable amount of money> CR

You have overpaid: <reasonable amount of money>

where <reasonable amount of money> = <the large amount that I paid> - ( <small amount> + <fairly small amount> )

So....

• why was it demanded that I pay <the large amount that I paid> by Jan 31st when I clearly didn't owe nearly that amount (in fact the overpaid amount is 3/5 of what I paid them at their behest!)

• should I claim it back (better to be earning interest (hah!) on it that it languishing somewhere at HM's pleasure)?

Please help me as I am a bear of little brain when it comes to tax!

[Eric Mc]

Why not enter some amounts to give us a clue what might have happened?

They don't have to be exact.

Do you use an accountant and did he/she advise you as to what was due to be paid by 31 January 2010?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi Eric,

I'd rather not put up figures - will PM you.

I did my own accounts (which may of course be the problem )

[klimakool]

could the overpaid part just be left to what needs paid at next tax return or take it away from the half return in july? if its a decent amount, remember you'll be taxed on any interest you recieve on it

[NiceCupOfTea]

Maybe...

I'm just confused because it was "you must pay this NOW" in Jan, and now it's saying I've overpaid - I just paid what they told me! They've had no further info from me that would change that figure...

[klimakool]

checked with mine, and i have an over payment thing too, something to do with the ten pence tax thing they buggered during 2008 before i was self employed and thats it coming up for me. could this poss be the same for you?