How much time do I have to claim my tax back after working in the UK? I'm a South African student.?

Question

I worked in the UK for 2 years and have been back for a while now.

What I would like to know is if there is any time-limit on how long I have to get this sorted out.

Would also like to know what the easiest way to go about this is if anyone has any suggestions.

Thanks...

Answer 1

You have to claim your refund within 6 years of the end of the tax year in which you left the UK. The tax year ends on 5th April, so if you left the UK on 1 July 2004, that is the 2004/05 tax year and you have until 5 April 2011 to claim.
You need to go to www.hmrc.gov.uk and search for form P86, print this off and fill it in. Then write a letter to the tax office which deals with your last employer, also enclosing the form P45 which you should have been given on leaving your employment. In the letter give the date you entered the UK and say that you want to claim tax overpaid. If you don't know the name and address of the Tax Office, contact your last employer and ask them. You will also get interest on your repayment if its over a year since you left.
It's a simple process and I wouldn't encourage you to use an agent who, as the previous answerer points out, will charge a commission.

Answer 2

I believe the time limit is seven years.

The easiest way to do it is through a company called 1st Contact (www.1stcontact.co.uk) - they are based in London but all their staff are South African. They will send you some forms to fill out and will tell you what other documents they need from you.

However, they obviously charge a commission - it's either a fixed fee or a percentage of the amount you receive back, whichever is the higher - I can't remember exact figures but their website should tell you. They are very efficient and I believe that the commission they charge is definitely fair for the service they provide. It would be very difficult to have a crack at doing it yourself, especially as you are not resident here. You'd probably spend loads on phone calls and postage anyway trying to get it sorted.

Answer 3

Hi Alex,
I would reccomend getting your taxation return to the Inland Revenue before April 5th - the end of the UK tax year for some archaic reason.
Give the IR a bell and ask for the relevant form.
I have a mate from SA that races motorbikes internationally, and all his income earnt in the UK is tax-deductable here, as it is, for him, offshore earnings.
I assume that if you hold SA nationality, then UK taxation is dispensed with, as long as you pay up on returning.
There are difficulties, though, in this complex system, in that it is fine if your payments are in Rand, but a small percentage is payable when converting from UK£.
Most confusing !
I used to be paid in Omani Ryals, converted to a GB bank in Sterling, and all was OK by the tax-man.
Offshore earnings.
I'm sure that the UK tax-folks will put you right, contact Inland Revenue, or conversly just persuade your employer to pay you in SA Rand, and stuff it in a bag. Sorry the exchange rate is a bit lousy right now, though.
All the best with it !
Bob