does anyone understand tax codes?

[lisacaton1980]

I am getting really confused with my tax codes. Basically, after reading a post on the forum, I found out I was being taxed 20% of my SMP as the tax office thought it was a second income. (I am being paid SMP by my previous employer).

I contacted HMRC who advised I have been paying too much so for my SMP I have been given tax code 200T. The man said this means I can earn up to £2000 this tax year in SMP before being taxed. As I only have a few months left he said I wouldn't pay any tax. OK, sounds simple enough.

Received my payslip this week and I am still paying nearly £20pw in tax on my SMP. Do you think that I will be entitled to a rebate when I return to work as my tax code there is 647L.

Thanks

 

[Abz1982]

Your old employer may issuse a final payslip with the tax refunded, that is what happened to me, but I finished my paid leave right on the 5th April so it fitten in with the tax year. Have you contacted your old Employer to tell them of the tax code change?

You can apply for refunds from HRMC, but I am not sure how to go about it exactly.

 

[RJ01]

Ok going by what you have said your tax free amount for the year is £6745 you can only have this at one employment or your code can be split to cover two sources of income.
Im not sure I understand your situation are you only receiving smp and no other income?
when do you start your employment?
Is it a new job or have you already worked for them?
It sounds like they have split your code which means 200T for SMP and your code for your employer will be 474L.

 

[lisacaton1980]

Ok going by what you have said your tax free amount for the year is £6745 you can only have this at one employment or your code can be split to cover two sources of income.
Im not sure I understand your situation are you only receiving smp and no other income?
when do you start your employment?
Is it a new job or have you already worked for them?
It sounds like they have split your code which means 200T for SMP and your code for your employer will be 474L.

I received 2 tax code letters at the weekend - one stating 200T for previous employer and other stating 647L for my current employer ready for when I return to work in July - less 2000 so looks like allowance split.

RJ01 - i am only receiving smp (from previous employer due to time I left them for new job)
I started with my curent employer in July 2009 and had LO in October. I go back after maternity leave in July. I was already working for them but through an agency and then got took on perm towards end of pregnancy.