Susan's Legal Bits

In February 2009 Susan was interested in.....

....Tax Codes, Holidays and HMRC Email Scams

Hi Everyone!

My last post was before Christmas but I know you have been hearing from Hugo who is a lot more active in his 'blogging' than me! [Susan handles the quality I handle the quantity: Hugo]

I haven't had any requests to comment on particular issues recently (apart from one competitor just before Christmas who asked for my help in explaining the recent Government announcements!!) but I know most of you are busy coping with the stresses and strains of the current economic climate and, this week in particular, tackling the weather issues all over the country!

Talking to my Customer Services colleagues I know that some of you have been calling in letting us know that you have received coding notices from HMRC. We can always check to ensure we have also received our employer notification and will be able to advise you if we haven't. Unfortunately we cannot action a change of tax code unless it is addressed to us so, if we haven't received our copy, it is always worth giving HMRC a call to chase this up.

Due to TUPE taking place back in October 2008 when your employer changed from one of our GUMBOs to GML your tax records should have moved from HMRC's Glasgow office to the Chapel Wharf office in Salford. I have recently spoken to the Revenue and they say there is a 6-8 week delay which does indeed cause us all a lot of frustration. Of course when a tax code changes we want to be able to action this correctly for you as soon as possible but you can be reassured that if there is a delay due to HMRC's admin difficulties you will not lose out as tax works on a cumulative basis therefore corrects itself throughout the year.

Anyone out there still worried about self-assessments? Hopefully you have all met the 31 Jan deadline for online filing if you missed the 31 October deadline for paper returns. If you have not been asked to complete a self assessment tax return and have been in employment only with us all year don't worry, your tax is taken care of!

IMPORTANT WARNING: Please note that at this time of year criminals out there are pretending to be HMRC, sending emails out telling you that you have been assessed as eligible for a rebate and asking you to click a link to go through and enter your credit card details in order to secure this refund. PLEASE don't be fooled by these unscrupulous people, we have checked with HMRC and they have told us emphatically that they will NEVER send you an email - fullstop! You will always receive correspondence from them via the postal system so watch out for any emails that purport to be from HMRC (they often have hmrc.gov.uk in the email address so look like they could be official), don't click on any links, don't open any attachments and simply forward the email in its entirety to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk so that they can continue to tackle this awful SCAM.

My final thought for the moment is for you all to ensure you are taking your correct holiday entitlement (if you are employed with us). Our holiday year runs from April to April so check your recent advices from us and see if you have accrued holiday that you haven't yet taken. Then simply call in and let us know when you are going to take that holiday and receive that money (not forgetting that it is beneficial for you to request that holiday to be paid out after a week of not working as you will receive full tax and NI free thresholds).

As always please don't hesitate to get in touch with us for queries or concerns, that's what we are here for!

Have a good February everyone and do drop me a line if anything is on your mind.

To give Susan your suggestions and comments you can get in touch with her here.

All comments provided on my blog are for informational purposes only. My thoughts and opinions are my own with agreement from my employer as being suitable for sharing with the wider world. Any advice, or writing that might be taken as advice, should not be deemed in any way as professional Legal advice and are only the musings of a HR practioner whose sole aim is to help where she can.