Things that ur happy about

[feral chile]

1 minute ago, eFestivals said:

if he hasn't, then he's fucked.

HMRC take 3 weeks post a letter, and while they've said in the past that they wouldn't fine people because they can't post a letter promptly, the fuckers issued fines anyway.

One day HMRC might get to know what competence is.

I'm worried about this - I'm not up to date with the timescales any more, they used to be several weeks - I know there have been loads of changes. Might be worth contacting them direct, I'm not sure how joined up/real time online services these days

[eFestivals]

13 minutes ago, feral chile said:

I'm worried about this - I'm not up to date with the timescales any more, they used to be several weeks - I know there have been loads of changes. Might be worth contacting them direct, I'm not sure how joined up/real time online services these days

the timescale has been the same for 15+ years - utterly shit.

And when you contact them directly, they lie and say it doesn't take 3 weeks - yet i've never had a letter from them in less. This tax demand I've just had? 3+ weeks from when i did my return.

I've paid fines to avoid the delays on the phone followed by the lies from people who don't know how shit their own employer is.

The online stuff seems to work, sort of.... they've even got modern now - 20 years too late - and will now take online payments ... tho the fuckers charge the end user for the payment fees, rather than covering it themselves (as other businesses do).

They really are shit, feral. You need to try being on the other end of the phone.

[feral chile]

10 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

the timescale has been the same for 15+ years - utterly shit.

And when you contact them directly, they lie and say it doesn't take 3 weeks - yet i've never had a letter from them in less. This tax demand I've just had? 3+ weeks from when i did my return.

I've paid fines to avoid the delays on the phone followed by the lies from people who don't know how shit their own employer is.

The online stuff seems to work, sort of.... they've even got modern now - 20 years too late - and will now take online payments ... tho the fuckers charge the end user for the payment fees, rather than covering it themselves (as other businesses do).

They really are shit, feral. You need to try being on the other end of the phone.

I have been on the other end of the phone. Both on my own behalf, and on behalf of my husband.

It was....interesting.

registering for online services used to take a while, you had to wait for an activation code, so at least 7 working days - the giv.uk link suggests that's still the case.

You can register for a Personal Tax Account, and with that you can file a return, might still need an activation code though, I'm not sure these days - personal tax accounts are relatively new.

edit - yes, still need code - timescale will be 7 working days from memory.

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return

You need to be able to prove you applied for it before the deadline.

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[eFestivals]

22 minutes ago, feral chile said:

registering for online services used to take a while, you had to wait for an activation code, so at least 7 working days - the giv.uk link suggests that's still the case.

3 weeks.

23 minutes ago, feral chile said:

timescale will be 7 working days from memory.

3 weeks.

23 minutes ago, feral chile said:

You need to be able to prove you applied for it before the deadline.

Which involves calling them and arguing it thru.

I paid the fine, life's too short.

[feral chile]

29 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

3 weeks.

3 weeks.

Which involves calling them and arguing it thru.

I paid the fine, life's too short.

It used to be really confusing - you registered for SA, but you also had to register for online filing separately. The online helpdesk dealt with technical queries and the activation codes were sent out through them. The contact centre dealt with advice.

Sometimes you'd have issues with security, that always caused delays with activation codes. best thing - always ensure your personal details are up to date. BEFORE applying for an activation code.

[oneeye]

2 hours ago, eFestivals said:

if he hasn't, then he's fucked.

HMRC take 3 weeks post a letter, and while they've said in the past that they wouldn't fine people because they can't post a letter promptly, the fuckers issued fines anyway.

One day HMRC might get to know what competence is.

They are indeed a bunch of clowns. I had a letter Nov 2016 to say that they owed me £212, to do with married couples tax allowance. I immediately claimed  on line and quick as a flash sweet fa. 

Phoned them to chase this up yesterday, spoke to a girl who seemed disinterested, put on hold for 5 mins to then be told that a cheque would be sent within 3 weeks; wtf.

She couldn't / wouldn't explain their incompetence / mistake; I couldn't be arsed to argue, as you've said Neil, life's too short.

Why, if they owe you money, don't they pop the cheque in with the letter telling you that they owe you money; it's not hard!

No wander tax evasion is rife.

[feral chile]

23 minutes ago, oneeye said:

They are indeed a bunch of clowns. I had a letter Nov 2016 to say that they owed me £212, to do with married couples tax allowance. I immediately claimed  on line and quick as a flash sweet fa. 

Phoned them to chase this up yesterday, spoke to a girl who seemed disinterested, put on hold for 5 mins to then be told that a cheque would be sent within 3 weeks; wtf.

She couldn't / wouldn't explain their incompetence / mistake; I couldn't be arsed to argue, as you've said Neil, life's too short.

Why, if they owe you money, don't they pop the cheque in with the letter telling you that they owe you money; it's not hard!

No wander tax evasion is rife.

why did you have to claim online? Did you get a P800 through the post? Had you claimed married couples allowance?

in other words, are you sure the letter was from HMRC and not one of the many third parties taking commission from people by telling them they're due a refund? In which case, you didn't claim online, you authorised an agent to claim on your behalf.

The girl you spoke to wouldn't have been allowed to tell you that you had an agent (if you do) as .....security again.

HMRC usually send out a P800 automatically for people who are PAYE only, followed by a bank giro. they don't ask you to go online to do it, did you go through the Government Gateway, personal Tax Account?

Make sure this happened:

https://www.gov.uk/check-income-tax-last-year

and not this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

3 hours ago, feral chile said:

have you registered online yourself?

the reason I'm asking is because I just went onto the gov website to check timescales for all this, it's something you need to consider.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/self-assessment-for-agents-online-service

Set up agent authorisation through the Self Assessment for Agents service

Once you’ve added the Self Assessment for Agents service to your portfolio you’ll have to get agent authorisation for any new or previously unauthorised clients. Log into the service and follow the instructions under ‘Request an authorisation’.

You’ll need:

• your client’s UTR
• your client’s postcode
• the authorisation code HMRC send to your client by post - this code begins with ‘SA’ and you’ll need it to complete the authorisation process

The authorisation code can take up to 7 days to arrive. You’ll need to enter the code before the client will appear on your client list, so you need to do this in advance of their return filing deadline. You must enter the code within 30 days from the date on the letter otherwise your client will have to repeat the process.

Once this process is complete you’ll be able to see your client on your Self Assessment for Agents client list within a few days. HMRC can now deal with you online, by phone or in writing about each of your clients’ Self Assessment matters.

HMRC will now send letters and forms direct to you, including your clients Self Assessment statements (SA300) and any fixed automatic penalty notices (SA328). You’ll also be able to view your client’s account online along with any statements of account.

Hello feral

I may have a tax authorisation code already, but I'm not so sure. I certainly tried to get one way back in to last year. The problem was that being IT illiterate I got so messed up in the system that I don't know if I ever received the code. In addition to this I no longer have access to the email address I was using at the time.

I'm just about to get all my paperwork together to see if there's a code mentioned. I'll also look on line.

Unfortunately I know about as much about taxes than I do about computers, so suspect that I am royally fucked as Neil suggests. I meant to contact n accoutant this evening but something diverted me away from achieving that. Talk about getting close to the wire.

Thanks for the information that you provided, and thank you for your concern. If I run out of time then I may tell them that I had proposed to complete this before Christmas just gone, but that I suffered (yet another) mental breakdown up to and including that time. I can word it in such a way as to ask them if their own policies and proceedures allow for an event such as this, and if not, why are do they have a policy which discriminates against the mentally unwell. I'm kind of guessing from Neils posts to you that you work in or have worked in a tax office? If so;

(1) What do you think of my mental health approach in terms of it's potetial success?

(2) Do you personally think I'm a bandit for considering, if necessary, going down this path? Anybody else can answer that one too, as I'm quite interested to know if this action is perceived as having the morals of  tom cat, or not.

[oneeye]

Hi fc,

P800 issued by HMRC to me; married couples allowance. It stated that I could register and claim on line, which I did, but no money thus far. No third party, just hmrc. 

It does say on the P800  payment  usually 3 - 5 days online, or 45 days for a cheque. It's been 60 days plus.

Fully appreciate under staffing etc but the system does appear to be rubbish; if HMRC send you a letter informing you of a rebate then include the cheque, simple really.

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by oneeye

[feral chile]

28 minutes ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Hello feral

I may have a tax authorisation code already, but I'm not so sure. I certainly tried to get one way back in to last year. The problem was that being IT illiterate I got so messed up in the system that I don't know if I ever received the code. In addition to this I no longer have access to the email address I was using at the time.

I'm just about to get all my paperwork together to see if there's a code mentioned. I'll also look on line.

Unfortunately I know about as much about taxes than I do about computers, so suspect that I am royally fucked as Neil suggests. I meant to contact n accoutant this evening but something diverted me away from achieving that. Talk about getting close to the wire.

Thanks for the information that you provided, and thank you for your concern. If I run out of time then I may tell them that I had proposed to complete this before Christmas just gone, but that I suffered (yet another) mental breakdown up to and including that time. I can word it in such a way as to ask them if their own policies and proceedures allow for an event such as this, and if not, why are do they have a policy which discriminates against the mentally unwell. I'm kind of guessing from Neils posts to you that you work in or have worked in a tax office? If so;

(1) What do you think of my mental health approach in terms of it's potetial success?

(2) Do you personally think I'm a bandit for considering, if necessary, going down this path? Anybody else can answer that one too, as I'm quite interested to know if this action is perceived as having the morals of  tom cat, or not.

(1) It might, but they'll look at timescales - did you have time before or after, to file your return.

(2) No, I don't.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-appeals/reasonable-excuses

I haven't been involved for a few years, I'd recommend trying to get your activation code before the deadline. they might extend the deadline if you can prove you've had problems getting online, but tried in good faith.

It used to be that you had to use it within a short time period or it became invalid (security again)

They have a specialist team for people who need help with tax, it used to include anyone who might have a mental health problem, this isn't included on their website, but it might be worth giving HMRC a call to see if you can go through to them, as they have more authority to help you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/needs-enhanced-support-nes-customers

https://www.gov.uk/dealing-hmrc-additional-needs

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[oneeye]

20 minutes ago, feral chile said:

 

Make sure this happened:

https://www.gov.uk/check-income-tax-last-year

and not this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails

 

Thanks fc, I did indeed make sure all was legit; deffo HMRC. They did acknowledge delays when I rang yesterday, I can only think that they are swamped with too much work with too little resources.

i wouldn't want to be doing their job.......

[feral chile]

17 minutes ago, oneeye said:

Hi fc,

P800 issued by HMRC to me; married couples allowance. It stated that I could register and claim on line, which I did, but no money thus far. No third party, just hmrc. 

It does say on the P800  payment  usually 3 - 5 days online, or 45 days for a cheque. It's been 60 days plus.

Fully appreciate under staffing etc but the system does appear to be rubbish; if HMRC send you a letter informing you of a rebate then include the cheque, simple really.

 

Don't know what they do now, it used to be that if the cheque didn't turn up, it'd take 6 weeks for another one - they had to check with bank that it hadn't been cashed, then get another authorised.

It should arrive very soon, with the P800.

Very glad it wasn't as I feared - HMRC has to deal with people signing up with agents unwittingly, and getting something like 32% taken.

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[oneeye]

2 minutes ago, feral chile said:

Don't know what they do now, it used to be that if the cheque didn't turn up, it'd take 6 qweeks for another one - they had to check with bank that it hadn't been cashed, then get another authorised.

It should arrive very soon, with the P800.

Very glad it wasn't as I feared - HMRC has to deal with people signing up with agents unwittingly, and getting something like 32% taken.

 

It has changed only recently so that you can (in theory) conduct your tax affairs on line. An example of the P800 (not mine), notice the green box info....

 

I've put it down to teething problems 

[feral chile]

14 minutes ago, oneeye said:

It has changed only recently so that you can (in theory) conduct your tax affairs on line. An example of the P800 (not mine), notice the green box info....

 

I've put it down to teething problems 

Yes, the link I posted showed that. Though that's a new one on me.

Digital services is very new for HMRC. There's been loads of changes lately, (In the last 2 years, evidently  )

Notice 'could'

 

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[oneeye]

19 minutes ago, feral chile said:

 

Notice 'could'

 

 

That is the get out of jail free card; sneaky buggers 

 

[feral chile]

Incidentally, spare a thought for contact centre staff everywhere. Having worked in contact centres for nearly a decade, I can attest that they have to take the blame for a lot of things they can't do anything about, they might be massively sympathetic to the customer, but can't say so, because they represent their organisation, the customer will vent. And vent. And who do they vent to? The only person they can get at, who often is as frustrated by the whole thing as them. And who is being recorded, so has to take the company line, no matter what they might think.

And while the customer has been waiting on the phone for ages, the CC adviser has been taking call after call, will be unable to take leave, because of staffing resources, will be strongly discouraged from being ill, because of the inconvenience to the employer - facing disciplinary procedures and possible dismissal for fairly low levels of sickness absence, so getting a virus in 11 months is a no-no.

Toilet breaks have to be justified. With details,

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[feral chile]

1 hour ago, oneeye said:

Hi fc,

P800 issued by HMRC to me; married couples allowance. It stated that I could register and claim on line, which I did, but no money thus far. No third party, just hmrc. 

It does say on the P800  payment  usually 3 - 5 days online, or 45 days for a cheque. It's been 60 days plus.

Fully appreciate under staffing etc but the system does appear to be rubbish; if HMRC send you a letter informing you of a rebate then include the cheque, simple really.

 

I'm not sure what the process is for this one - whether it's a security one, or technological.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

1 hour ago, feral chile said:

(1) It might, but they'll look at timescales - did you have time before or after, to file your return.

(2) No, I don't.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-appeals/reasonable-excuses

I haven't been involved for a few years, I'd recommend trying to get your activation code before the deadline. they might extend the deadline if you can prove you've had problems getting online, but tried in good faith.

It used to be that you had to use it within a short time period or it became invalid (security again)

They have a specialist team for people who need help with tax, it used to include anyone who might have a mental health problem, this isn't included on their website, but it might be worth giving HMRC a call to see if you can go through to them, as they have more authority to help you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/needs-enhanced-support-nes-customers

https://www.gov.uk/dealing-hmrc-additional-needs

 

Hello feral,

Thank you, you are a star. That's a great bit of information that you have provided. It's also nice to know that you don't consider me a bandit. It's actually partially true. I've been on anti-psychotics for about 12 years now. Then late last year both me and my wife decided (without medical advice) to get me off the tablets, which we started to do gradually. The net results weren't good. Anyway, that episode is over now, thank the Lord.

Thanks once again.

[feral chile]

1 minute ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Hello feral,

Thank you, you are a star. That's a great bit of information that you have provided. It's also nice to know that you don't consider me a bandit. It's actually partially true. I've been on anti-psychotics for about 12 years now. Then late last year both me and my wife decided (without medical advice) to get me off the tablets, which we started to do gradually. The net results weren't good. Anyway, that episode is over now, thank the Lord.

Thanks once again.

I don't think you're a bandit at all. Tax is a bugger to get your head around, if you're not used to it.

Anti-psychotics - you need to reduce them very gradually. Withdrawal can cause a relapse, it's uncertain if it's a return to the underlying condition or if the withdrawal of the meds induce a relapse.

Nobody really knows how they work. I can well understand why you want to get off them though.

I hope I haven't frightened you too much with HMRC advice 

All the best xx

 

[feral chile]

1 hour ago, oneeye said:

That is the get out of jail free card; sneaky buggers 

 

It's a bit strange, that one. I know they were introducing in year repayments online, through your tax code etc., didn't realise you could claim a p800 (end of year) type one, that usually has already been reconciled, hence the p800, so you'd get your repayment without having to do anything.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpayments/if-youre-due-a-refund

2. If you're due a refund

Your P800 tax calculation will tell you if you can claim your refund online. If you don’t claim your refund online within 45 days, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you a cheque. You can also contact HMRC to request a cheque.

If your P800 says HMRC will send you a cheque, you’ll receive it within 14 days. If you’re owed tax from more than one year, you’ll get a single cheque for the entire amount

 

 

Wonder if it's to do with estimated amounts?

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by feral chile

[feral chile]

5 hours ago, eFestivals said:

the timescale has been the same for 15+ years - utterly shit.

And when you contact them directly, they lie and say it doesn't take 3 weeks - yet i've never had a letter from them in less. This tax demand I've just had? 3+ weeks from when i did my return.

I've paid fines to avoid the delays on the phone followed by the lies from people who don't know how shit their own employer is.

The online stuff seems to work, sort of.... they've even got modern now - 20 years too late - and will now take online payments ... tho the fuckers charge the end user for the payment fees, rather than covering it themselves (as other businesses do).

They really are shit, feral. You need to try being on the other end of the phone.

They can't really cover the fees themselves - taxpayers would be covering the fees, which would go down as well as taxpayers paying for benefits that they don't get.

No employee will publicly criticise their employer, particularly when they're working, and being monitored.

 

 

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

1 hour ago, feral chile said:

I don't think you're a bandit at all. Tax is a bugger to get your head around, if you're not used to it.

Anti-psychotics - you need to reduce them very gradually. Withdrawal can cause a relapse, it's uncertain if it's a return to the underlying condition or if the withdrawal of the meds induce a relapse.

Nobody really knows how they work. I can well understand why you want to get off them though.

I hope I haven't frightened you too much with HMRC advice 

All the best xx

 

Tax is indeed mind bendingly hard to get one's head around.

With the anti-psychotics we did gradually reduce the amount (or so we thought). We started in early November (I think it was), but by mid December I really wasn't myself at all. Apparently I'd become a stranger to my wife, and we even had our first heated argument. I'll not go in to it all, but I / we realised that it ws most likely the affects of dropping the amount of medication that I was taking. So, I started to increase the mg amount back to what it was and I now feel much better.

You haven't frightened me with HMRC advice - I was already frightened! lol

[feral chile]

2 minutes ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Tax is indeed mind bendingly hard to get one's head around.

With the anti-psychotics we did gradually reduce the amount (or so we thought). We started in early November (I think it was), but by mid December I really wasn't myself at all. Apparently I'd become a stranger to my wife, and we even had our first heated argument. I'll not go in to it all, but I / we realised that it ws most likely the affects of dropping the amount of medication that I was taking. So, I started to increase the mg amount back to what it was and I now feel much better.

You haven't frightened me with HMRC advice - I was already frightened! lol

They're not scary, honest, but the sooner you ask them for help, the more they can do.

[eFestivals]

11 hours ago, oneeye said:

Fully appreciate under staffing etc but the system does appear to be rubbish; if HMRC send you a letter informing you of a rebate then include the cheque, simple really.

Oh, it's much worse than that. I've raised this here before...

HMRC have a rule that a fine is suspended for 3 months if a letter (based around a fine) is returned to them.

However, they have no system to operate that rule. Even tho they know the letter has been returned to them so they know a fine isn't within their rules they still issue the fine. A £400 fine, btw, in the majority of these cases.

I got myself sorted out with the fine, but was concerned that HMRC are issuing fines they shouldn't issue.

So I wrote to the head of HMRC about it. Her reply was (essentially) "tough shit. We'll keep issuing the fines we shouldn't issue, and it's down to the individual to contact HMRC to have it revoked. We think this is a good system".

I contacted my MP about it, who contacted HMRC. HMRC told him the same, and he thought that was acceptable (Stephen Williams, ex-LibDem MP, uncaring shit).

 

[eFestivals]

8 hours ago, feral chile said:

They're not scary, honest, but the sooner you ask them for help, the more they can do.

They're not scary, true.

Help? PMSL.