P85 - Claiming back UK tax when leaving UK permanently

[MargotDarko 0]

Has anyone here filed a P85 or know someone who has? I've seen things about companies that will file everything for you and get you more money back and faster than you could get on your own but then take a percentage of the return. Anyone have any experience (first or second hand) with a company like that? Thanks!

[homesick_american 1]

I'm more worried about what leaving in the middle of the tax year is going to do to our 2007 returns since we won't meet the residency test for the 2555-EZ!

[Nicole72082 0]

Didn't the new tax season just begin? My fiance is worried that since he only worked a week in the new tax season, that he won't actually get anything back.

What is the residency test??

[Mags 112]

I filed my P85 myself.

[homesick_american 1]

Didn't the new tax season just begin? My fiance is worried that since he only worked a week in the new tax season, that he won't actually get anything back.

What is the residency test??

We're calendar year filers, i.e. we filed our 2006 returns based on 01/01/06 to 12/31/06.

You have to be a resident of another country to exclude your income using the 2555-EZ. You can use other forms if you don't meet that test, but they're a pain in the ### to fill out. The 1040 and 2555-EZ are so ridiculously easy to fill out and I've gotten used to them.

I won't bother with a P85; since I don't have an NI number I'd have trouble filing anything with HMRC anyway. :lol: I really hate that they don't automatically assign one to you when you become a permanent resident here...but they don't. You have to faff around with a mountain of paperwork and there's *always* something missing from your packet at the appointment. I tried four times before I gave up.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Did my P85 myself... got refund in about 6 weeks...

Kez

[MargotDarko 0]

Did my P85 myself... got refund in about 6 weeks...

Kez

That's good to hear. Did you receive all the tax you had paid in tax year when you left? And how did they get the money to you?

Didn't the new tax season just begin? My fiance is worried that since he only worked a week in the new tax season, that he won't actually get anything back.

What is the residency test??

We're calendar year filers, i.e. we filed our 2006 returns based on 01/01/06 to 12/31/06.

You have to be a resident of another country to exclude your income using the 2555-EZ. You can use other forms if you don't meet that test, but they're a pain in the ### to fill out. The 1040 and 2555-EZ are so ridiculously easy to fill out and I've gotten used to them.

I won't bother with a P85; since I don't have an NI number I'd have trouble filing anything with HMRC anyway. :lol: I really hate that they don't automatically assign one to you when you become a permanent resident here...but they don't. You have to faff around with a mountain of paperwork and there's *always* something missing from your packet at the appointment. I tried four times before I gave up.

Four times? That's crazy! It was a big pain in the butt, but I got my number after just one interview. Have you been working in the UK? If so, I think you'd be on emergency tax code and paying way too much.

[MargotDarko 0]

Didn't the new tax season just begin? My fiance is worried that since he only worked a week in the new tax season, that he won't actually get anything back.

What is the residency test??

From my understanding, you're right that unless he overpaid last year he won't really get anything back. He would get the tax he paid for that one week, but I'm guessing that's not much.

EDIT: Homesickamerican is talking about the US tax year - Jan to Dec of each year. You're right that the UK tax year just started - Apr of one year to end of March following year. The residency test mentioned is related to US taxes.

Edited April 15, 2007 by MargotDarko

[broma25 2]

Didn't the new tax season just begin? My fiance is worried that since he only worked a week in the new tax season, that he won't actually get anything back.

What is the residency test??

Because its the beginning of the tax year he should get everything he has paid back.

[britty 1]

I filed my P85 myself.

I didnt even know I had to file a P85 when I moved to the US. I have been resident here since November 2006 (came in under K-1), but took a redundancy in the UK in March 2006, and havent worked since then. Im assuming I wont have any tax rebate as I was made redundant at the end of the tax year 2005/06 but should I still file a P85?

thanks

[Mags 112]

I filed my P85 myself.

I didnt even know I had to file a P85 when I moved to the US. I have been resident here since November 2006 (came in under K-1), but took a redundancy in the UK in March 2006, and havent worked since then. Im assuming I wont have any tax rebate as I was made redundant at the end of the tax year 2005/06 but should I still file a P85?

thanks

If you have a P45 from 2006 (which you should have if you finished work) I'd give filing one a try anyway. If you aren't owed anything you won't have lost anything by trying. If you do get something it'll be a nice surprise!

Incidentally, you can file a P85 up to seven years after the fact anyway.

Edited April 15, 2007 by mags

[flutter95 4]

Ok I filed mine myself, but with the help of an accountant, who messed things up a little, but I sent in all the finished and correctforms a bout 3 months ago now, no refund just yet.

[Mags 112]

Ok I filed mine myself, but with the help of an accountant, who messed things up a little, but I sent in all the finished and correctforms a bout 3 months ago now, no refund just yet.

I sent mine off in December but only got the rebate about 3 weeks ago. They're not very quick...

[MargotDarko 0]

Ok I filed mine myself, but with the help of an accountant, who messed things up a little, but I sent in all the finished and correctforms a bout 3 months ago now, no refund just yet.

I sent mine off in December but only got the rebate about 3 weeks ago. They're not very quick...

That's not too bad, mags. Did you receive all the tax you had paid in the 05/06 tax year? If the rebate is for all tax paid in the current tax year when leaving, I would be getting a ton of money - I don't want to get too excited before I know for sure that's the case though. It should be really uncomplicated for mine - we're leaving Dec this year, and I will have only worked one job (no business and no self-employment to complicate it) at the same pay rate for the nine months in the tax year before then.

How did they give the money to you? I'd like it to go into my UK account, but I was wondering if that would look weird. I'm going to leave my current account open to make it easier to get our dollars into pounds for paying the hubby's student loan.

[broma25 2]

Ok I filed mine myself, but with the help of an accountant, who messed things up a little, but I sent in all the finished and correctforms a bout 3 months ago now, no refund just yet.

I sent mine off in December but only got the rebate about 3 weeks ago. They're not very quick...

That's not too bad, mags. Did you receive all the tax you had paid in the 05/06 tax year? If the rebate is for all tax paid in the current tax year when leaving, I would be getting a ton of money - I don't want to get too excited before I know for sure that's the case though. It should be really uncomplicated for mine - we're leaving Dec this year, and I will have only worked one job (no business and no self-employment to complicate it) at the same pay rate for the nine months in the tax year before then.

How did they give the money to you? I'd like it to go into my UK account, but I was wondering if that would look weird. I'm going to leave my current account open to make it easier to get our dollars into pounds for paying the hubby's student loan.

You dont get all the money back for that year it depends on when you stop work. For me I left my job mid May 2005 and as the tax year had only just started I got all mine back (personal allowances hadnt been used). If you leave towards the end of the tax year then you probably wont get much if anything back.

I know that when I filed my P85 they checked the last few years to make sure I didnt owe anything either before they refund.