Income Tax … excessive deductions and inadequate service.

[diadem01]

From the outset I must say I'm reporting personal experiences but I have learnt from an unusually friendly revenue assistant that mine is not a unique situation. She is probably sick to death of the complaints.

It appears that the Inland revenue have tried to introduce a new system and in doing so have created havoc with the original tax codes. Pensioners and part time workers in particular will be affected and the overpayment of tax can be quite substantial.

Many, many people are affected, which is why the telephone number is almost permanently engaged or requires a very lengthy wait (up to two hours has been reported). The usual response is a stream of information followed by the comment that they cannot help you at the moment and you should call again. This is followed by an abrupt 'goodbye'. This has been the case for several weeks now and no improvement has shown itself of late. If you have found your tax code changed to BR, the probability is that you are one of the affected.

As I see things, there is something very wrong indeed when income tax is wrongly deducted and no reasonable means of challenging the action exists. Incidentally, even snail mail protests are taking around 55 days (and counting) to draw an initial answer from the Revenue and even that will not necessarily resolve your problem.

Having drawn the attention of my MP to the problem, I would encourage anyone similarly affected to do likewise. MPs hate to be pursued about tax and administrative matters like this even though this problem is not the fault of the current government.

I hope that AB will not object if I duplicate this post on Chatterback because it could be a very serious situation for many taxpayers.

[boxtops]

duplicate post http://www.theanswerb.../Question1013153.html

[diadem01]

Have to agree with you about past courtesy, Boxtops, … but; it began around March, I understand, when a new system was superimposed on top of the original system and the duplication is the cause of the havoc. Let's see what response the post draws.

[factor-fiction]

Duplicate answer! http://www.theanswerb.../Question1013153.html
It might be better to ask everyone to keep responses on one thread.

[diadem01]

I think I can draw a line under this matter having now established contact with HMRC. I did have big problems with them and much of what I said was true … but it seems that it was more limited than I'd been led to believe.
All the same, the advice to watch these matters carefully is no less valid.

Thank you boxtops and factor30.