Tax question (claim back)

[Will__]

I resigned last year from my job and my last day of work was July 18th ('03). I haven't worked since (very lucky), and only just found out that I might be (or have been) entitled to some tax back. My company used to do all the accounting and tax - they just handed us pay slips and paid money into our accounts. I was on �25k for that year, and I have my P60.

Have I missed the boat? Can I still claim anything back? What would I be claiming? How do I do it?

My girlfriend is in exactly the same situation, except that she was earning less (�21k) - would her situation be the same as mine? I would ask an accountant but we're no longer in the UK.

Many thanks.

[paulz]

I'd say yes you were entitled to something back and get in touch with Inland Rev asap 14:11 Sat 17th Jul 2004

[paulz]

click here

[kags]

Hi there, you are probably entitled to a refund, but it depends on what you did after you finished work. If you claimed any job seekers allowance or other benefits, they will also be txable, and you will also have to take into account any other taxable income you had, such as rental income, untaxed interest, or benefits in kind from your employer. When did you leave the uk? Have you been back in the country since? Your best bet is to write to the Inland Revenue as paulz suggests (if you don't know which your tax office was, reply with your tax ref, which will be on your P60 and I will help you find it). They may request that you fill in a tax return, or they may just accept the P60, but in either case you have time to claim, 6 years in fact. You don't need an acountant to do this, it will be very straightforward, unless you were a Lloyds Underwriter or something like that!

[kags]

Just to add, if you have not left the UK permanently, you could be liable to tax in the UK on all your income, even if it comes from another country. The rules on this are complicated!

[Will__]

Well we have both left the UK permanently and neither of us have had any kind of taxable income from the UK in that time. (oh except that my girlfriend had �500 worth of shares that she sold through her high street bank in april - while she was a spanish resident (and she's a spanish citizen anyway....)) so I'm not sure where that leaves us.

We'll get someone in the UK to get us some forms forthwith! Any other advice? ~Thanks

[kags]

yes, just contact your tax office in the UK, send them your P60 and give them all the details you have given here. They will allocate your full personal allowance for the tax year to your earnings from 6 APril to 18 july, and repay any tax overpaid. As long as you intended to leave the Uk permanently, and have not been making frequent or long visits back, you are free of the Uk tax system! The sale of shares needs to be declared to the Inland Revenue (just tell them when you send your P60s in), but the amount involved should not throw up any tax problems.

[bash2004]

You can contact your local Tax Office (as was) and ask them to send you a declaration form, which asks about your employment after your last job. I believe that for for claiming back tax in the current tax year (which is not the case for you), the reclaim form is called P500. There is a lot of information available, including telephone numbers, addresses and allowances etc., on www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk