Anybody know anything about income tax?

[merciasounds]

Apparently, even though I filled in my tax forms correctly, they have taken too much from me for the last 6 years.and It's a sizeable sum. I've had a cheque from them for a refund for tax years 2008/9 and 2009/10, ( £3,076.25) but I've ben told it's 'probably' too late for me to get a rebate for the other years - is this right? I'm sure if it was the other way around and I owed it to them they'd take it and it wouldn't be 'too late'.

[gingejbee]

My other half - but not here at the moment, I'm afraid!

[WELSHYORKIE]

My understanding is that they are entitled to go back 6 years to reclaim from you so it should be the same the other way round

[sandyRoe]

I don't know much about tax but try and claim the money. They can only say no.

[vinrex7]

My accountant tells me you can claim back 4 years, may have changed now though.

[gingejbee]

It's become more complicated recently and it depends on whether you're self-assessed- BUT you may be able to claim for at least two more years (or even four) if you contact them BEFORE Jan 31 this year (this is important). This from HMRC- hope it helps and good luck.

[gingejbee]

Well, my info. came from HMRC five minutes ago- so I wish you could all agree!!

[gingejbee]

mercia: as you can see, two different answers from two different HMRC people - so what chance have we, mere mortals, got?
helen: not getting at anyone in particular, just the situation.

[gingejbee]

Further to the above, the following information is available in the public domain. It confirms more or less what I said above and therefore it WOULD be worthwhile making further claims for earlier years.

From 1 April 2010, Self Assessment taxpayers will have only four years in which to lodge tax repayment claims. This means that if you filed a SA tax return for 2004/05 and/or 2005/06 and need to make any claims for those years for overpaid tax, you will need to do so quickly as the revised deadlines for those two years are respectively 31 March 2010 and 5 April 2010. Those not in SA (i.e. people that pay tax via PAYE only) still have until 31 January 2011 to claim for 2004/05, 31 January 2012 for 2005/06 and 31 March 2012 for 2006/07. From April 2012, the “four-year rule” will apply to them too.

[gingejbee]

.......so from this you can see that for 04/05 and 05/06 you are already too late but you may be able to make a claim for 06/07 and 07/08.

[merciasounds]

Thanks to all who answered. I phoned the tax office and got two conflicting pieces of info, one said exactly what redhelen said, the other what gingejbee said!! anyway in case there's a chance of me getting anything back they know i've staked my claim before the 31st of this month.