Tax refund

The process usually takes 30-45 days by the inland revenue . This time period applies only if you include all the documents with your claim. In case your application is incomplete and the Inland Revenue have to write to you to request more information your claim can be severely delayed.

Also the time it takes to claim your tax rebate will depend on the backlog of post that your specific tax office is experiencing. During peak periods, like at the end of the tax year your claim may take longer to process. Source: www.fixithere.net/hmrc-contact-number/

I assume you're an American Jeremy and also 'an attorney'.
Over here some people use accountants to prepare their tax returns.

Instead of going through all this ordeal you can simply get your attorney do it for you. All you have to do is hire a good civil attorney like this one for ex and then be assured that you won't have to sweat it out in these matters.

I like getting the cheque and cackle and gloat all the way to the bank.

So glad all was ok auntieflo

Update to my Tax Refund from HMRC. After the worry about whether or not I should have completed the online form,the money was paid into my account on 15th, and as it was over £500, it was worth getting the refund online and not having to wait the 45 days or so.

OH got a letter saying he was owed several hundred pounds of overpaid tax, I think he will just wait and see what happens.

I wonder what people without a passport do? Why is life so complicated now?

Oh dear MiniMouse. I do hope my old log in details still work, my passport is out of date at the moment

llrina It's a new system they've just introduced.

I fill in my self assessment online, and have done for some years now. When you register you give your Nat insurance number, and unique tax code. One is then given a user number and password to use.
Not ever have I been asked for a passport number.

Have just had £209 credited to our account from the tax man. It was because some of my tax allowance was passed over to DH (or something like that). It is a right complicated business applying for it, but I was determined not to let the tax man hang on to it for another 45 days as we originally applied back in March. They take it off you very quickly but take a long time giving it back. Our notification came as a letter from HMRC with DH's tax code not as an e-mail, often get those saying I am due a rebate. Always delete.

Ah! That's OK then.

HMRC send me letters and emails about general topics, such as reminders, but anything specific to my tax is done via their secure messaging system.

Whenever I've been due a rebate after doing self-assessment, it's been paid into my bank account automatically within a day or so.

'Which' article on tax scams:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/tax-scams

Wasn't this a letter though, not an email?

Somebody tweeted Martin Lewis about this, with a copy of the email. Martin's response was 'HMRC NEVER emails about tax rebates, regardless of how legit it looks. It's a scam.'

I filled in a self assessment form online this week and, just to confirm, They do ask for your passport number as an extra security verification. They also requested a phone number to send an extra security code.

"Progress" seems very complicated, confusing and scary these days!!

We are in the throes of getting things ready to send in our tax forms. We are getting quite short with each other especially over my fondness for opening bank accounts.

Just because you actually received a payment doesn't mean it is not a scam. £20+ pounds is nothing to a criminal who can make a great deal more by selling your details. If your junk mail increases you could be on a mug list.
I hate filling in tax forms but with the changes brought in this year I will probably not have to do them again.

Must admit to a bit if a restless night when I thought that maybe I had been had. I am on the whole a very trusting person, and couldn't believe that I had maybe fallen for a scam.

Sorry to have worried you Auntieflo. I too had spoken to a real person (face to face) who works for HMRC and it was this person who told me that passport numbers weren't asked for. All most odd.

Great news Auntieflo hope you didn't lose any sleep over it.

This is absolutely not a scam. Employers have had to use this method of contact for ages. It's really quite easy once you get the passcode and ID . Difficult for anyone without the use of a computer /iPad etc. But obviously okay for everyone here. I suspect forcing everyone to access refunds in this way is HMRC's way of hoping lots of people won't bother.

Hi Jane10, I have just spoken to a REAL PERSON at HMRC. All is OK. I phoned them earlier this morning and just got a long recorded message, and then the phone just went dead. Frustrated, I tried again, and gave different answers to the infernal automated voice. I don't know exactly what I said, but I did get to speak to a living breathing human. Relief. He said the passport no. was part of the verification process, I have not been scammed. He did say, that if you say nothing in answer to their questions, you will get to speak to an advisor. Hope this helps anyone else who has had trouble with HMRC. I must admit to feeling very anxious after reading Jane's post.
WHEW!!! ?

I meant Irma that being the only one able to answer the questions doesn't mean all is secure as it depends who is asking the questions and getting the answers.

Even getting some money paid to you may not mean all is well. I know someone who got some money as dividend from an investment, and was thus happy to invest more of their savings. After that they heard nothing as the whole thing had been a scam.