UK Tax Return Question

I started temping in September 2006 shortly after I arrived in the UK. From September until around February I was in the emergency tax bracket. This was mostly my fault because I had no idea what bracket I was supposed to be in, and only found out I was being overtaxed when talking to a co-worker. I got ahold of the temp agency I was working for and they got it sorted so that I was put into the right bracket.

I phoned inland revenue in order to find out what I should do to get my money back because I had been over-taxed by such a large amount. They told me to wait until after April when I would get my P-60 and to send that in.

In April we moved to a new flat. I contacted the temp agency I had been working for and let them know to send my P-60 to my new address. Well guess what... they didn't. I've been unable to contact our former landlord and the temp agency said they are unable to reissue another one.

Is there any possible way to go about reclaiming the hundreds of pounds I was overtaxed?!?!

They are being stupid.  Just plain stupid.  Sure, they can't do a new one, any more than in the states they would issue a new W2.  But they have photocopies and computer backups of everything, so they sure as shooting can give you a COPY of what they did, either a photocopy or simply typing all the information from the P60 into a Word doc or email.

If they refuse, tell them you will report them to the HMRC for obstructing your legal obligation to file and pay the correct amount of tax.  Remind them that under the DATA PROTECTION ACT, you are ENTITLED to EVERYTHING they have on you. EVERYTHING.  They can NOT refuse you your information. 

Alas, also under the data protection act, they have the right to charge you for this information, but no more than a "reasonable" fee.  Hopefully, they won't do this.

You can also just go back to old fashioned letter writing & just write a letter to HMRC telling them the numbers from your payslips.  HMRC do NOT need the P60, only the numbers.  This is quite different from the IRS who insist on seeing the W-2.

what is the form for requesting this correction for overpaid tax? is there a time limit to claim?

You can use either an R40 or a tax return form or just write a letter, but you DON'T have to unless HMRC insist.  You can just write them a nice letter...

You have at least 5 years to claim a refund.

Thank you Guya 

I am in a similar situation and have typed up a letter to send along with my P60 to request a refund. Do you know which address I post the letter to? Also, if I give them the account information, can HMRC direct deposit/pay-in the refund or do they prefer to send a refund cheque in the post?

Thanks! I want to make sure I am doing this right 

I tried to find out how much i will get taxed via this emergency tax bracket until I get my NIN but I was out of luck. What percentage is it?

I think it's 22% - you can view the various tax codes here - the emergency code is classified as BR - basic rate.

I was on the emergency tax code for 11 months last year without even realising it. However, when I did, I called my tax office and they told me to send them a letter along with my P60 and I would get a refund.

Within a few weeks, I received a cheque for £1,500 for the previous tax year's overpayment and then, from September through to March this year, the overpaid tax was credited on my payslip so I was paid more each month to compensate.

The emergency code is the same as a single person's allowance but it's not cumulative. So if someone starts work in September (halfway through the UK tax year) they would only get 1/12 of their allowance each month and not a full year's worth.

The employer might let you have a copy of the P14. This is the employer's copy of the P60. If you can get this the tax office have a copy anyway. (They have the other copy of the P14)  or a computer record of it. They might need to know the employer's PAYE reference but they should be able to trace it.

Just to update on my previous post. I sent in a letter and about a month and a half later got a cheque in the mail for my full amount refunded. I was able to have all my taxes refunded because I did not earn enough money for that tax year and was under the taxable allowance. It was very simple though, just sent in a letter explaining with the P60 and they took care of it.