Scam emails
There are various scams in place that involve an email with a fake HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) heading, some of which are quite convincing. The email asks taxpayers to provide bank details so that a refund may be issued. HMRC will never contact you in this way for such information, and it is important to be on your guard at all times. Such emails should always be ignored and deleted but if you are in any doubt as to whether you may be entitled to a refund you should contact a professional adviser or HMRC directly. A full list of current scam addresses can be found on the HMRC website.
PAYE code numbers – remember last year?!
HMRC have advised that 2011/12 coding notices are being issued over the period January to March 2011 and will notify taxpayers' code numbers for the tax year commencing 6 April 2011. Code numbers should always aim to ensure that taxpayers pay the right amount of tax and it is important that they include all relevant allowances and reliefs and ensure that different income sources have been taken into account. Coding notices should be checked very carefully, and especially in relation to underpayments carried forward since this is where errors are often made. All the detail needs to be accurate as the coding will be used by employers and pension providers.
It is to be hoped that this year's coding process runs more smoothly than the past. HMRC indicated that they have listened to complaints and have included IT fixes and carried out various checks.
