OV9

Tax needn't be taxing. Bugger off. It quite often is!

I got pumped for child benefit in 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 as like many, I was unaware of the threshold. I then have to do 3 or 4 years of self assessment (backdated). Wife cancelled child benefit in Feb 2019.

This week I got a letter stating that I owed them just over £1k for CB in the tax year 19/20. Spent ages on hold then talking to a fuckwit who eventually understood that I didn't owe it but still need to get a letter of proof of cancellation from the CB office even though he could see when it was cancelled.

While in my online tax portal I noticed that I had been requested to do a self assessment and that it was due on the 31st Jan. Another hour on hold and I luckily ended up with someone who was both knowledgeable and helpful. They could see that I didn't need to do one and cancelled it thankfully.

It really is shit dealing with anything to do with tax and it's a bloody lottery with the quality of staff and info when you call too. Hate it!

I've been looking at the online application thing for business mileage tax relief. It's got a limitation of £2.5k before you have to self assess. Mine is coming in at around £3k for 21/22 tax year. Question is, can you under claim to bring you under the threshold?

If I want to do a self assessment it seems like you get a load of penalties for assessing a previous TY, which presumably would wipe out any benefit to bothering.

Maybe it's too much hassle for the small amount I'd be due.

I doubt anyone's going to check that you've claimed slightly less mileage than you might have done...

Since quitting contracting, filling in HMRC forms is certainly not something I miss.

Today has been a good day for taxes, I had to pay just short of £2k when I did my self assessment, but I realised that I might have some tax relief due from a previous years pension payments. I spoke to HMRC and they basically dictated a letter that I needed to write and send (it couldn't be done over the phone because the overall figure was £80 over the threshold ). Anyway, long story short, I got an email about a £2,250 refund today.

Which was nice.

Rich B wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:00 am Today has been a good day for taxes, I had to pay just short of £2k when I did my self assessment, but I realised that I might have some tax relief due from a previous years pension payments. I spoke to HMRC and they basically dictated a letter that I needed to write and send (it couldn't be done over the phone because the overall figure was £80 over the threshold ). Anyway, long story short, I got an email about a £2,250 refund today.

Which was nice.

Result!

So how are you going to sensibly invest/frivolously waste that?

Knowing HMRC, they'll want 3/4 of it back next year Rich

dinny_g wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:17 am Knowing HMRC, they'll want 3/4 of it back next year Rich

This!

Ascender wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:09 am

Rich B wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:00 am Today has been a good day for taxes, I had to pay just short of £2k when I did my self assessment, but I realised that I might have some tax relief due from a previous years pension payments. I spoke to HMRC and they basically dictated a letter that I needed to write and send (it couldn't be done over the phone because the overall figure was £80 over the threshold ). Anyway, long story short, I got an email about a £2,250 refund today.

Which was nice.

Result!

So how are you going to sensibly invest/frivolously waste that?

Straight into ethereum. We all know Rich loves crypto

ZedLeg wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:02 am

Ascender wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:09 am

Rich B wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:00 am Today has been a good day for taxes, I had to pay just short of £2k when I did my self assessment, but I realised that I might have some tax relief due from a previous years pension payments. I spoke to HMRC and they basically dictated a letter that I needed to write and send (it couldn't be done over the phone because the overall figure was £80 over the threshold ). Anyway, long story short, I got an email about a £2,250 refund today.

Which was nice.

Result!

So how are you going to sensibly invest/frivolously waste that?

Straight into ethereum. We all know Rich loves crypto

I'll be a millionaire by the end of the week!!

Rich B wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:10 am

ZedLeg wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:02 am

Ascender wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:09 am

Result!

So how are you going to sensibly invest/frivolously waste that?

Straight into ethereum. We all know Rich loves crypto

I'll be a millionaire by the end of the week!!

Do it!

I do not miss this shit. Glad I'm out.

Ah, it's my quarterly letter from HMRC about the VAT I don't owe them and they haven't been able to allocate to my account. Guess it's time for my quarterly hour long telephone call back to them to let them know what they've not done.

Mito Man wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:58 pm

Pretty damning.

Where did all the Chinese go? I appreciate that there's data missing but the graphic makes it seem like they're all just vanishing. Or in the case of Russia, falling out of windows.

Ascender wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 9:50 am Ah, it's my quarterly letter from HMRC about the VAT I don't owe them and they haven't been able to allocate to my account. Guess it's time for my quarterly hour long telephone call back to them to let them know what they've not done.

And here's the inevitable "we're passing this to a debt recovery agency" letter. Sigh....

Ascender wrote: Fri Jun 02, 2023 12:20 pm

Ascender wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 9:50 am Ah, it's my quarterly letter from HMRC about the VAT I don't owe them and they haven't been able to allocate to my account. Guess it's time for my quarterly hour long telephone call back to them to let them know what they've not done.

And here's the inevitable "we're passing this to a debt recovery agency" letter. Sigh....

I'm pretty sure you can bill them for your wasted time and anguish.

Ascender wrote: Fri Jun 02, 2023 12:20 pm

Ascender wrote: Mon Mar 27, 2023 9:50 am Ah, it's my quarterly letter from HMRC about the VAT I don't owe them and they haven't been able to allocate to my account. Guess it's time for my quarterly hour long telephone call back to them to let them know what they've not done.

And here's the inevitable "we're passing this to a debt recovery agency" letter. Sigh....

Oh Jesus

Submitted and paid this morning, despite completing my accounts paperwork etc by November last year. Work has been far more profitable than previous years so there's been a sizeable jump in tax owed, also in payment on account, which is a win. Albeit feeling a bit sore now, but at least it temporarily focusses the mind for the coming year. Also decided to stop having lodger here, the freedom will be fantastic, but will miss that £7,500 per year tax-free income.

Thoughts and prayers to anyone else still dealing with it.

Gavster wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 2:41 pm Also decided to stop having lodger here, the freedom will be fantastic, but will miss that £7,500 per year tax-free income.

Do you not have to pay tax on the rent from
lodgers?