Late Payment

[Glpblondie]

I was working for a temp agency on the run upto christmas, where I would be paid on a weekly basis. My 4th payment was supposed to reach my account on 30.12.11 but it didn't. When office reopened in new year, I spoke to the agency and they said that they were unable to pay me until the following friday so I would receive 2 (weekly) payments on 06.01.12. the 06.01.12 came around and only one payment hit my account, I called them again to say I should receive 2 payments and a chaps payment went in that afternoon....for the wrong amount. When I received my wage slip it was calculated as if I had done 2 weeks work as 1, and therefore I had been taxed more. I have rung them several times now but am not getting any straight answers. I know we all pay tax and national insurance (as they have clearly pointed out to me) but surely both payments should have been processed indivdually 1 as a late payment for week 39 and week 40 as normal? Can anybody give me any advice?

[bednobs]

not sure, but as tax is a percentange, it'll be right wont it? If you paid (say) 10 % tax on 2 payments of £100 pound (£20) it would be the same as paying 10% on one payment of £200 (£20) wouldn't it?

[buildersmate]

If one is paid weekly (or indeed monthly) the tax tables automatically work out for the employer how much tax to deduct based upon: -
the tax code of the individual
the week number in the tax year
the amount of tax paid to date
the taxable pay in the week being calculated.

After one missing week' pay, the tax table should have calculated the tax due in the double week's pay as exactly twice that as due if the amounts were paid in the consecutive weeks (if the pay is the same).

In other words, it should have self-corrected.

[Glpblondie]

no because according to my wage slip I worked 70hrs (which I didn't) in one week so I have been taxed on that rather than 35hrs for week 39 and 35hrs for week 40 so I have been taxed twice on my week 39 payment because they messed up and didn't pay me on the 30.12.11

[Glpblondie]

that response in relation to bednobs post

[ojread2]

I think what they have done is just added your hours together
35 + 35 is 70 hours which, whether they work the tax out on 35 and 35 will still amount to the tax on 70hrs
You've not been over taxed as I can see it anyway

[bednobs]

i am saying the same as everyone else! - you are still paying the same amount of tax because it's a percentage

[Glpblondie]

I get that its a percentage but I am supposed to be paid weekly and they are basically saying that I worked 70hrs in a week, so one wage has been taxed at 40% which would be correct but I didn't work a 70hr week......I have managed to sort it with them now and they have admitted they have made a mistake......finally Thanks for your comments guys :D