h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I never thought I would say this, but my wages are too high.
It's the first wage packet of my new job, accounting for about 2 weeks of work. However, there is a hefty chunk added on that I wasn't expecting. At first, I assumed that I was reading the payslip wrong, and the large amount was my gross pay, since the smaller amount was about what I was expecting my pay to be (well, slightly more, actually), but my bank account is showing a credit matching the full sum.
Now, I have been unemployed for a few months, and in my experience in recent years, when that happens, a tax rebate will be forthcoming, but so far that has tended to come in the form of a letter and attached cheque. Could the system have changed to the employer supplying it, and reclaiming it from the government themselves? That would be a new one.
I am going to query it with my new employer, as I would rather accept merely what I was expecting than get greedy, and have to give it back when I feel less able...

If you ever feel like sharing your bounty....

It's possible your rebate has been taken into account in your tax code - has it changed?

HMRC have a calculator into which you can put the relevant figures (gross pay, previous pay and tax paid, tax code, etc, all of which should be on your payslip) and it will tell you how much tax you should be paying this month.

http://stccalculator.hmrc.gov.uk/UserDetails.aspx

Maybe that could help. But also check with your company's payroll department. I do salaries where I work and I would always take time to go through someone's payslip if they didn't think it was right - it's part of the job

Deb

If I'm owed tax at the end of the tax year, I ask for direct payment & usually receive it promptly.
But I have noticed if things change during the tax year (I started a second job) I have first got an estimated tax code, but when corrected, got a rebate via tax coding ie less deduction - even a credit at times.

Tis is the time of year when I receive statements of investment income -- stock dividends, bank interest, etc. I stuff them in a big yellow envelope. Sometime in early march, I take whatever is in the envelope to a tax form preparer.

I have queried it, and been assured that it is a genuine tax readjustment to which I am fully entitled.

Good for you! Enjoy it!