HMRC very aggressive recently?

HMRC very aggressive recently?

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Discussion

Count897

Original Poster:

337 posts

8 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
Like a lot on here I've usually whacked anything I earn over 100k into a pension and then filed self assessment. This also meant that my tax code usually included a portion of the personal allowance. Same situation for many years, except now I find myself moved onto a K code as they claim to no longer take pension contributions into account until after you've made them, and can upload evidence into their system at the end of the tax year. Anyone else been hit by this? Perhaps I'm missing something but all seems a bit pointless to pay all this out during the tax year and then launch a massive reclaim later on via SA but I do know they like to get the money in!


markiii

4,035 posts

209 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
I'm getting chased fortynightly for an SA. "Have you thought about filing early?"

Nope I'll do it when I'm good and ready

SunsetZed

2,647 posts

185 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
I do the same as you and my tax code is a T code. I do my tax return typically within a couple of weeks of getting my P60 as it doesn't take long. No idea if that makes a difference to HMRC.

abzmike

10,387 posts

121 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
markiii said:
I'm getting chased fortynightly for an SA. "Have you thought about filing early?"

Nope I'll do it when I'm good and ready
To be fair, are they not just encouraging folk to do it early whist they are quieter if they can, rather than leave until Jan 19th?
I have my P60 and will fill it in when I get a chance.
Of course, others with a bill they need to find the cash for may approach differently.

Panamax

6,305 posts

49 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
Count897 said:
Like a lot on here I've usually whacked anything I earn over 100k into a pension and then filed self assessment. This also meant that my tax code usually included a portion of the personal allowance.
Similarly I make some modest charitable donations each year to keep my total income below one of the higher rate tax bands. HMRC insist on coding me on the total before the charitable contributions were made, not on my actual taxable income.

OIC

122 posts

8 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
I always owe HMRC the sameish amount every year.

Let's call it £10,000.

On 31st January I pay them £15,000.

The following July 31st I pay them £5,000.

I may be wrong, but I think I'm paying them last tax year's owed £10,000 plus next tax year's £10,000 in advance.

So they are banking my £10,000 in advance, gaining any interest on it and still taking another £10,000 off me on top of the £10,000 advance I've already given them each tax year.

Why can't I just pay them the amount of tax I owe each year?

I've never challenged my generosity owing to the fact that the last thing that I need in my life ever is HMRC sniffing my arse.

Maybe Eric can confirm that not paying the full amount in advance every year won't be seen as poking the very nasty Bear.

Or maybe we are all supposed to give HMRC lots of our hard earned dosh in advance.

Bit like taking the boss out to dinner in a nice posh restaurant once a year and keeping a year's bill payment in the restaurant owner's bank account in advance of next year's dinner, which you still pay for anyway.

BobToc

1,896 posts

132 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
markiii said:
I'm getting chased fortynightly for an SA. "Have you thought about filing early?"

Nope I'll do it when I'm good and ready
Indeed, plenty of time until Jan 20th when I launched into it in a panic!

Greenmantle

1,692 posts

123 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
I think HMRC are spot on when it is a Financial Institution making the claim - eg SIPP Administrator but as we all know that only covers the basic rate. For those on the higher rate or additional rate then it is a complete black box.
Also be aware that there is an automatic process called Simple Assessment (P800) which doesn't take into consideration that a SA could have been filed in May just after a P60 is released.
I do not know when I will get my refund. It is a considerable amount of money and should be returned within an appropriate amount of time - say 4 weeks. Screwing around with Personal Tax codes isn't the way. It will just alienate.

wattsm666

728 posts

280 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
OIC said:
I always owe HMRC the sameish amount every year.

Let's call it £10,000.

On 31st January I pay them £15,000.

The following July 31st I pay them £5,000.

I may be wrong, but I think I'm paying them last tax year's owed £10,000 plus next tax year's £10,000 in advance.

So they are banking my £10,000 in advance, gaining any interest on it and still taking another £10,000 off me on top of the £10,000 advance I've already given them each tax year.

Why can't I just pay them the amount of tax I owe each year?

I've never challenged my generosity owing to the fact that the last thing that I need in my life ever is HMRC sniffing my arse.

Maybe Eric can confirm that not paying the full amount in advance every year won't be seen as poking the very nasty Bear.

Or maybe we are all supposed to give HMRC lots of our hard earned dosh in advance.

Bit like taking the boss out to dinner in a nice posh restaurant once a year and keeping a year's bill payment in the restaurant owner's bank account in advance of next year's dinner, which you still pay for anyway.
The payment you make on account at 31st January is already 10months through the financial year, the July payment is after the tax year has finished and the balancing payment is then 10months after the year end. You are effectively paying in arrears on account, you have already earn the money when you pay it. PAYE you pay each month.

Panamax

6,305 posts

49 months

Tuesday 15th July
quotequote all
OIC said:
I may be wrong, but I think I'm paying them last tax year's owed £10,000 plus next tax year's £10,000 in advance.
Dear boy, do not fret, it's simply "pay as you go", just like PAYE.

One former government or other realised they could appear to boost the economy by bringing forward people's tax payments. And now we're stuck with it. A "one time" advantage that's gone forever and lost in the mists of time.

MattsCar

1,766 posts

120 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
Panamax said:
OIC said:
I may be wrong, but I think I'm paying them last tax year's owed £10,000 plus next tax year's £10,000 in advance.
Dear boy, do not fret, it's simply "pay as you go", just like PAYE.

One former government or other realised they could appear to boost the economy by bringing forward people's tax payments. And now we're stuck with it. A "one time" advantage that's gone forever and lost in the mists of time.
Gordon Brown, Labour.

I always wondered what people did when they first introduced it and all of a sudden people had to find, in some cases a lot of money, to pay in advance, which they might not have planned for.

paddy1970

1,111 posts

124 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
You can still contact HMRC during the tax year once you've made contributions and provide evidence to get your code adjusted mid-year...

Eric Mc

123,904 posts

280 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
MattsCar said:
Gordon Brown, Labour.

I always wondered what people did when they first introduced it and all of a sudden people had to find, in some cases a lot of money, to pay in advance, which they might not have planned for.
The Self Assessment Payment on Account system was introduced in 1995/96 - before Labour’s 1997 election win.

AyBee

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
markiii said:
I'm getting chased fortynightly for an SA. "Have you thought about filing early?"

Nope I'll do it when I'm good and ready
Glad it's not just me. This years' bill will be much heftier than usual, but I'd rather it earned me a few £k before it goes to them on the 31st Jan laugh

PugwasHDJ80

7,610 posts

236 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
wattsm666 said:
OIC said:
I always owe HMRC the sameish amount every year.

Let's call it £10,000.

On 31st January I pay them £15,000.

The following July 31st I pay them £5,000.

I may be wrong, but I think I'm paying them last tax year's owed £10,000 plus next tax year's £10,000 in advance.

So they are banking my £10,000 in advance, gaining any interest on it and still taking another £10,000 off me on top of the £10,000 advance I've already given them each tax year.

Why can't I just pay them the amount of tax I owe each year?

I've never challenged my generosity owing to the fact that the last thing that I need in my life ever is HMRC sniffing my arse.

Maybe Eric can confirm that not paying the full amount in advance every year won't be seen as poking the very nasty Bear.

Or maybe we are all supposed to give HMRC lots of our hard earned dosh in advance.

Bit like taking the boss out to dinner in a nice posh restaurant once a year and keeping a year's bill payment in the restaurant owner's bank account in advance of next year's dinner, which you still pay for anyway.
The payment you make on account at 31st January is already 10months through the financial year, the July payment is after the tax year has finished and the balancing payment is then 10months after the year end. You are effectively paying in arrears on account, you have already earn the money when you pay it. PAYE you pay each month.
Not for many people- if you are business owner you are paying tax on dividends you haven't yet declared or taken! in fact many people have to declare an interim dividend to pay the tax on the dividends that they haven't yet declared. And of course if you pay yourself more than you expect, you pay the extra tax and then pay additional tax on the tax you may pay the following year. If you increase the amount you pay yourself each year then it can take 3-4 years until you actually feel the genuine financial uplift!

Panamax

6,305 posts

49 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
AyBee said:
This years' bill will be much heftier than usual, but I'd rather it earned me a few £k before it goes to them on the 31st Jan laugh
Strange post. Regardless of when when you file your return the tax isn't payable until 31 January.

Count897

Original Poster:

337 posts

8 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
Figured it out - never call them, they don't appear to be very knowledgeable and seem to just put you on even worse codes. Just change your forecast earnings figure online taking into account any salsac/pension conts etc. Tax code will then be adjusted pretty quickly.

MattsCar

1,766 posts

120 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The Self Assessment Payment on Account system was introduced in 1995/96 - before Labour s 1997 election win.
Yep, you are correct.

clockworks

6,773 posts

160 months

Wednesday 16th July
quotequote all
markiii said:
I'm getting chased fortynightly for an SA. "Have you thought about filing early?"

Nope I'll do it when I'm good and ready
I'm getting these emails too.

I actually did my 2024/5 SA 5 weeks ago, and paid what I owed a week later.

ooid

5,296 posts

115 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
The Self Assessment Payment on Account system was introduced in 1995/96 - before Labour s 1997 election win.
It is a ridiculous and unfair system to be honest. They need to modernize it immediately, I'm aware people can adjust this but it is completely unnecessary and almost looks like a trap.

(I'm employee by the way, no skin in the game but I'm aware it is quite unfair for self employed)