TAX-BACK when leaving UK for good!?

Question

I am aware of the fact that people leaving the UK are entitled to clain tax-back when leaving the UK for good, but can you actually do it if you don't have a permanent N.I. ?!?

Answer 1

I stand to be corrected here, but I think if you've paid too much tax you are entitled to a refund.... end of.

I was under the impression that you only get tax back because tax deductions are based on the assumption that you will earn the same money throughout the tax year, but if you leave the country at any time other than the 5th April (UK tax year end) this assumption is incorrect and because your tax free allowance isn't pro-rated down you (sometimes) get some money back.

For example (using any old numbers)..... if you earn 100 pound a week the assumption is that you will earn 5,200 a year. If you have a tax allowance of 4,000 you pay tax on 1,200 which at say 10% is 120 or 2.30 per week.

However if you leave half way through the year, you only earn 2,600... with a tax allowance of 4,000 you should pay zero tax so will be entitled to get 26 x 2.30 back or 59.8.

I'm pretty sure these rules apply regardless of NI etc.

But you should do a calculation to see how much (if anything) you are entitled to get back as it all depends how much you earn and when you leave (or stop earning).

Answer 2

Everyone is allowed to claim back any overpayment of tax, if you are on a temporary NI number or not.

As you are leaving the UK part way through the tax year, there is a very high chance that you have overpaid tax.

Make sure that you claim any tax back that is rightfully yours. Use a tax calculator: http://taxfix.co.uk/income-tax-calculato... to see if you are due a refund.

If you are then you have 2 options:

(1) Get your P45 form your employer, if you can not get this, then get a statement of earnings. Send this with your P91, P86 and P85 to your local tax office.

(2) An alternative is to use an agency who will charge a fee but if you do not have any experience, this might be easier. An example of such an agency is:

http://www.taxfix.co.uk

or

http://refundsdirect.co.uk

Whichever method you use, just make sure you get back what is rightfully yours, we pay enough in tax as it is!

Answer 3

Bye...

Answer 4

I believe that the tax allowance is based on a full year, if you leave the UK before the end of the tax year, you should be able to get a refund on the part of the year you have not been resident.

I got a refund when I left UK for two years a few years ago.

Answer 5

Two things that haven't been mentioned. What is your nationality, and how long were you in the UK? You should do forms P86 and P85 as suggested. This will enable your residency status to be ascertained, and establish whether or not you are due a refund.

Answer 6

It's not that you are entitled to claim just because you are leaving the UK. It is all down to whether you have overpaid any tax, as that is what can be refunded. Your tax is worked out so that you will be employed for the whole year. If you are not working for the whole year, you may have overpaid.

If you are leaving the UK, you should complete form P85 and attach parts 2 & 3 of your P45 to it. If you did not complete a form P86 when you arrived, you should also do that one. You send these to your tax office and they will review your tax records. If you have overpaid you will be sent the repayment. Tax & NI are seperate, it does not matter if you did not apply for a permanent NI number, you can still make a repayment claim.

Answer 7

If you have paid too much tax  you are entitled to a refund, of course. You don't have a permanent N I? What's that either you have one, or you haven't, but then you may have been issued  a temporary one for a specific reason, your status, or whatever. But you still are entitled to a refund, if too much has been deducted from your wages.

Go to their site and you will easily find out how to proceed.

www.inlandrevenue.co.uk/