HMRC Customer Service Issues

Since arriving in the U.K. on March 4th, I began working on the 7th but have not received my national insurance yet. Due to the closure of pubs, clubs, and restaurants on March 20th, I was told I wouldn't be paid even for the hours I worked. It's been 7 weeks without income, although I'm grateful for staff accommodation. After applying for universal credit, my case was unexpectedly closed, and my application was declined. I was also asked to sign a furlough agreement with St Austell brewery, but have not received any funds unlike my colleagues. Feeling confused and unsure of what to do next, I seek advice as I have followed all procedures correctly. I am concerned about finances and rely on food donations from coworkers. I hope to find a solution soon. Thank you, Marta G.

Hello, I am reaching out as I have been required to stay at home due to the coronavirus since March 21st. I work in the construction sector through an agency and am wondering if I qualify for the Job Retention Scheme. I have contacted both the agency and the company responsible for my weekly payments, as per their instructions, but I have been informed via email today that I am not eligible for the scheme. I am perplexed by this decision as I pay taxes like any other construction worker and have been out of work for five weeks now, facing financial strain. I am seeking guidance on what steps I can take next in this situation. Thank you, Constantin B.

Hello, I am writing on behalf of my girlfriend. She is Brazilian and is experiencing some language barriers. She works as a cleaner and pays taxes but believes that her tax code is incorrect, resulting in overpaying taxes. She wants HMRC to update her primary employer information to rectify this issue. She used to be registered with three companies, but now there are only two. She is unsure if it matters which company is listed as her primary employer. She is also seeking clarification on the tax-free threshold and whether HMRC will calculate her total earnings from all companies before deducting taxes once she exceeds the threshold. She understands she will still pay National Insurance regardless of surpassing the threshold. I have all her employment and tax details available if needed. Thank you, Rob

I registered for Self-Assessment as my income exceeded £50,[redacted] and I thought I owed child allowance (High Income Child Benefit Charge). After contacting HMRC and reimbursing two years of High Income Benefit Charge, I completed my Self-Assessment online and discovered it required my NET income, not gross. Submitting my net income (below £50k) suggests I don't qualify for the charge and might have mistakenly paid £1,[redacted] to HMRC. Moreover, since my job's net income is under £50k, it seems Self-Assessment is not needed. I desperately need assistance. Despite repeated attempts, contacting you by phone leads to a busy automated response ending with "sorry we are too busy, goodbye." I fear potential fines or penalties. Please advise promptly. Kind regards, Nichola B.

I recently received a letter from HMRC requesting me to complete a self-assessment form for the last tax year [redacted]/[redacted]. I had previously closed the self-assessment with a company that handled my mileage relief and contacted HMRC about it. My expenses for the last tax year were below £[redacted], and the amount of £[redacted] was utilized in my tax code. I am an employee at a care company, not self-employed, and I am unsure about how to fill out a self-assessment form. All my taxes for the previous year via PAYE should be in the system. I can provide old payslips from last tax year to demonstrate that my mileage was under £[redacted]. I am facing challenges reaching HMRC via phone. Additionally, my expenses for this tax year have been omitted, resulting in higher tax payments. Can I submit my April payslip showing my company reimbursed me at 0.20p per mile to have this included in my current tax code for [redacted]/[redacted]? I would appreciate any guidance as I am quite confused about the situation.

I started working for Luminous as an electrician apprentice in October [redacted]. Initially, I received a few payments, but the company faced cash flow problems, halting our paychecks over the Christmas period and into the new year. I had been working long hours with overtime, even traveling extensively, yet I found myself without income or a contract, despite repeated requests. Eventually, due to financial constraints and the inability to cover the commute costs, I had to cease working in January. Although the company terminated my employment, my P45 indicates my work concluded on March 18, [redacted]. I am trying to apply for universal credit due to unemployment, but I am facing issues with receiving assistance. I received three payments post my employment cessation: on January 24th (£[redacted].98), February 1st (£[redacted]), and finally on February 18th (£[redacted].88). These payments seem to cover most of my outstanding wages from November and December. However, since February 18th, I have not received any further payments, and I am now struggling to make ends meet. It is challenging for me to pay my bills, especially as my P45 suggests I was still receiving income until mid-March. I am in desperate need of help and clarification regarding the payments from the company.

I am currently in Cambodia with my wife and 3 children. My accountant arranged payment of my tax bill (£[redacted].00) about 3 months ago. Unfortunately, my family was in a car accident here, resulting in my wife's broken leg. I had to rush here from England as we have no one to care for the children. Just when I considered returning, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leading to the closure of Cambodia's borders. I am now stranded until the borders reopen. Rest assured, I intend to settle my taxes once I am back to work in England. My tax reference number is [redacted]k. Name: Kevin Burch, Address: 3 St Nicholas Flats, Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, PO2 8JQ.

I am self-employed and believe I am eligible for government income support due to the listed criteria being met, and my self-employment income ceasing entirely because of Covid-19. Additionally, I am currently on furlough from my part-time job as a waitress. Today, I have an interview for a carer position, and if successful, I plan to work all three jobs once feasible. I need to ensure that taking on the new job will not impact the expected payment from the self-employed income support scheme or the income from my furloughed waitress job. If it does affect these, I will be unable to accept the new position. It is crucial that the income from the new job is separate from the support I receive from self-employment and the furlough pay from the restaurant job. I have struggled to find clear information on this specific situation online or through phone consultations. Could you please provide clarification? Thank you.

Hello. Some time ago, I accessed my HMRC account to review my details. I have been on long-term sick leave since May [redacted] and on half pay since January [redacted]. Recently, I received notifications from Student Loans about suspending repayments and Council Tax Support granting me a reduction after submitting required documents. However, upon checking my HMRC account in the PAYE section, it incorrectly listed me as unemployed when I am actually employed but on sick leave. After updating my employment status, I received correspondence from Student Loans suggesting repayments and Council Tax Benefits stating a reassessment based on a change in income starting in February. I believe this error may have originated from my adjustment on the You Gov site. I am confused and seeking advice on whether I should revert my employment status to Unemployed. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Dear Sirs, I need assistance regarding a child benefit overpayment issue. I unintentionally received benefits while earning above the limit of £50,[redacted]. I am willing to repay the total amount of £4,[redacted].87, along with the interest charge of £[redacted].67. I have been trying to reach the relevant department to arrange a repayment plan without success. Despite my reduced income due to Covid-19, I am committed to resolving this matter promptly. I seek clarification on why the interest was applied despite assurances against it. Your prompt attention and guidance on setting up a payment schedule would be greatly appreciated. Please review this matter and provide advice on how to proceed. Kindly advise on the best contact number for further assistance. Thank you for your understanding. - A. S.

On January 13th, [redacted], I received a letter from the Tax office stating that I owe £[redacted].10. I called the tax office on January 20th, [redacted], and they instructed me to contact my employer as they claimed the error was on their end. I reached out to my employer on January 23rd, [redacted], and they are currently working on resolving the issue. The tax office advised me to call back after April 20th, [redacted]. Today, after being on hold for 35 minutes, I spoke to a person named Sheila from the tax office who abruptly ended the call. I tried calling again but couldn't get through. I attempted to find the ESC-A19 form on the Gov website but was unsuccessful. I believe my employer should be responsible for the tax owed, especially since I contacted the tax office on March 21st, [redacted], regarding an incorrect tax code and informed my employer about it. I kindly request for the matter to be put on hold until I hear back from my employer.

From September [redacted] to March [redacted], I was issued an incorrect tax code which has already been rectified. Despite this correction, I believe I am still owed 7 months of overpaid tax. During a call to HMRC in March, I was informed that if my employer could not adjust my tax code before the March payday, I would receive a refund directly from HMRC for the overpaid tax. I have not received this overpayment refund in my pay. Upon checking my personal tax account on the government gateway, it seems HMRC is yet to calculate my tax owing to pending information needed to be submitted. I would like to know what information is required, the amount of tax to be refunded, the expected timeline for the refund, and whether it will be included in my future pay or sent as a cheque. Though I understand the current circumstances, I kindly request the refund be processed within the next few months rather than the 5-month period between June and October. Thank you for your assistance in advance.

Hello, I'm a self-employed freelance graphic designer working under contract to create newspaper ads for a client. She recently informed me she will only pay me 20% of my usual fee and wants me to claim the rest from the COVID-19 self-employment scheme. This situation feels unjust to me, as it's akin to hiring a gardener, having them work, and then only paying them 20%, directing them to seek the remaining pay from the government. This predicament is troublesome as I value the business relationship with her, but I also must uphold the principles at stake here. My profits over the last three years, which the government will base their assistance on, are derived from various clients and not solely from her. If I accept her proposal, I would essentially be subsidizing her business with my entitled government support. While I am committed to honoring our contract and receiving payment per our agreement, this situation has put me in a difficult position. Your input on whether her request is fair or if I should maintain the normal invoicing process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your assistance. Best regards, J. P.

Hello, I am a self-employed freelance graphic designer currently working on a contract to create adverts for a client's newspaper. The client pays me for 2 days of work each month, running her newspaper business from home using freelancers. Recently, she informed me she would only pay me 20% of my fee and suggested I claim the remaining amount from the COVID-19 Self-Employed Scheme, which I find concerning. It feels unfair to be paid only a fraction of the agreed-upon fee and rely on government support for the rest, akin to hiring a gardener and only paying a portion of their fee. This situation has placed me in a dilemma as I value the business relationship but feel strongly about the principle of fair compensation. My income is calculated based on my average profit over the last three years, factoring in payments from various clients, and is to be paid in June. If the client's request stands, I would be forfeiting a significant part of my entitled payment to accommodate her terms, which disadvantages me for her benefit.

The government has implemented schemes to support small businesses through larger companies. The issues in her business are not my responsibility. I have a contract with agreed-upon rates that must be honored, and she must pay me accordingly. She suggests paying me only 20% and relying on government support for the rest. This arrangement would work if I exclusively freelanced for her, but I also work for other clients. The amount she provides monthly is a fraction of my total earnings, which will be considered by the government under the COVID-19 Scheme. I have been diligently fulfilling my tax obligations for the past 6 years. Would it be better to bill her as usual and risk losing the contract if she refuses to pay? I feel she is manipulating the situation. Can anyone advise if her request is valid or if I am in the right? I sense I am being taken advantage of. Thank you, Mr. J Parker.

I need assistance with a challenging situation. I am a self-employed freelance graphic designer with a contract to create adverts for a newspaper owned by a client. She typically pays me for two days of work per month. She operates her newspaper business from home using freelancers and is a limited company earning above 50K, without paying business rates. Recently, she informed me she would only cover 20% of my fee, suggesting I seek the remaining payment from the COVID-19 Self-Employed scheme. This arrangement does not sit well with me, likening it to hiring a gardener for a day's work and only paying them 20%, expecting them to cover the rest through government support. I value our working relationship, but this issue challenges my principles, potentially risking our business collaboration.

I am seeking guidance on accessing government financial assistance as a freelancer affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. I operate as the director and only employee of my Limited company, receiving a small monthly salary and the majority of my income in dividends. Without savings or accessible company profits, my income solely relies on company performance. I can provide SA302 forms from the past three years detailing my income and tax payments. I am concerned that my unique setup might not fit the criteria for the government's Job Retention Scheme, offering up to 80% of earnings up to £[redacted] monthly. I am looking for advice on the best approach to apply for financial support and whether my case can be reviewed individually.

I was let go from work on March 23rd when the lockdown started, and now I'm unsure if I should be classified as Self Employed or Employed. Since the agencies I work for do not pay individuals, I had to create a Limited Company to receive payment. Although my accountants say I'm Employed, I believe I'm Self Employed because I am employed by my own company. As the sole employee of the company, I have been told by my accountant that I can claim Furlough payments as the Director. However, I do not receive payment as a Director, only as the employee, which seems confusing. Could you please assist me in understanding what I am eligible to claim? Thank you.

I am looking for guidance on managing the taxes related to my online work on a subscription service website. The website deducts 20% from earnings, and I am unsure if this includes tax. I'm uncertain if I need to submit a tax return manually, especially since I have been using the website for less than a year and my earnings vary monthly. While I already pay taxes through my day job, I am unsure how to handle the taxes from this additional income source. I have funds to transfer to my bank account but want to ensure I am compliant with my tax obligations. I am open to providing more details if needed. Thanks, Hannah

I need to pay my outstanding National Insurance contributions and complete my self-assessment for the tax year [redacted]/[redacted]. I am unable to proceed on the online platform as it requires my P60, which I have been unable to obtain from my former agency, MEM Agency, despite numerous attempts since August [redacted]. After contacting the helpline on January 27, [redacted], HM Revenue sent me a link to access my account, but due to internet connectivity issues, I couldn't complete the process before the link expired in 30 minutes. Despite requesting a new link from a customer service representative, I was informed that I needed my P60 to proceed. I was caring for my daughter who suffered a mental health crisis; hence, I missed the January 31, [redacted] deadline. Kindly consider waiving the late payment penalty. Could you please unblock the link on my account so I can fulfill my obligations? Sincerely, Aleksandra Szumielewicz.