HMRC has pointed to an important check pension planners may need to make after a taxpayer got in touch to query a large bill they had received.
A customer got in touch to query what they termed an “estimated income tax bill” of £124,000 that was showing on their record.
But HMRC clarified that as this related to an actual payment that had been received, this would “need to be checked”.
The woman got in touch over X to follow up a letter they had sent to the tax authority, to contest a “estimated income tax bill” of £124,062 that they had received.
HMRC responded to first ask if this was estimated income the current 2024/2025 tax year, with the person saying the amount was under the category ‘Employments that have ended since April 5, 2024’.
HMRC further queried if she recognised this employment relating to the mystery figure. The woman stated in response that she did not as she had not worked since 2017.
Explaining her efforts to resolve the issue, she said: “I contacted HMRC by phone with no success then contacted the company who ‘paid me’ and they have no record of me so I wrote to HMRC to ask them to investigate but have not heard anything.”
After some back and forth, the taxpayer stated that she previously received an inheritance from her deceased uncle, that came from this company as a pension payout.
Yet she also said the matter was dealt with between 2022 and 2023, and she had paid the tax on the amount then.
She also expressed their worry over the bill, saying she was “getting extremely anxious” about the issue.
She also shared the important detail that “someone has received a payment of £305,995 showing on my Gateway and has not paid the tax of £124,062”.
In light of this information, HMRC cautioned: “If it’s showing that you’ve actually received a payment, that needs to be checked, if it was just an estimated income, then there wouldn’t be any financial impact on you.”
The taxman also urged her to call 0300 200 3300 for help with the issue. This is the general enquiries helpline for income tax, which is available Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm.
If you have an income tax query, you may be able to get the details you need using the Ask HMRC online chat for assistance.
The digital tool can provide information about PAYE, tax codes and how to claim a tax refund.