Tax problems - lost documents and confusion. What do to?

Question

A friend of mine started working for NAAFI (Army shop) in Germany in October 07. She was put on an emergency tax code whilst NAFFI Human Resources sent off her P45 and her "leaving UK" form to the tax office.

After waiting 3 months, (after being told it would take 3 months by NAAFI) she rang the tax office to be told that they had no idea she had left the UK or that she was working for NAAFI.

The tax office instructed her to complete the "leaving UK form" again and to fill out a "employee without a P45 form". They were faxed by NAAFI HR (Germany) to the tax office.

Recently she rang the tax office again to check on progress. The tax office still "didn't know" that she worked for NAAFI and they want her to re-submit her forms (for the 3rd time), sending orginals of her P60, P45 and payslips (for them to lose?!).

In this time, because of the NAAFI's fixed 1.49 exchange rate (euro to pound sterling), she's lost more than £200 as what the NAAFI is taking as tax is more than what..

Answer 1

Memo to self:

Use registered post.. or hand deliver them and get a receipt.

Then you can just say tough take me to court if you want I have proof I gave them to you.

Answer 2

She could try an official complaint, and ask for compensation, but she may have to produce proof of postage. Would suggest she sends another form P85.

The problem these days is that the tax system is designed so that any tax office can deal with the work of any other tax office, and correspondence often gets transferred from office to office, depending on the current work state, so her previous forms could be anywhere in the country. This situation will be getting worse as the Government plans to close so many local tax offices. Another New Labour bright idea and bad organisation. No wonder tax office staff are so dispirited, it is very difficult for them to cope with, and customer service is abysmal through no fault of theirs.

Answer 3

she will have to resubmit but she should be reimbursed for monies lost

does she have a Human Resources department who should be handling this , they should be looking at reimbursing her

can  she send / fax docs to a family member/friend as well as going through official channels

they could maybe send them registered to the tax office form here

might be better