HM Revenue & Customs do sometimes make mistakes. Normally, if they have charged you insufficient tax and later discover the error, they will send you a supplementary demand requesting the balance owing. However, under a provision known as the ‘Official Error Concession’, if the mistake was due to HMRC’s failure ‘to make proper and timely use’ of information it received, it is possible that you may be excused the arrears. For this to be likely, you would need to convince HMRC that you could reasonably have believed that your tax affairs were in order. (more…)

When you retire, you may be due for a tax rebate. If you are, this would normally be paid automatically, especially if you are getting a pension from your last employer. The matter could conceivably be overlooked, either if you are due to get a pension from an earlier employer (instead of from your last employer), or if you will only be receiving a State pension – and not a company pension in addition. (more…)