Claiming back tax paid on Direct Debit Payments to the Union
Following the conversion of my payments to Direct Debit from
my bank account and not by ‘check-off’ out of my wages by the Finance
Department, I have been meaning to see if I can claim back the tax deductible
from these membership costs. It has taken me long enough to get round to it – I
made the change last January (2012) and have been paying by Direct Debit ever
since.
This is how easy it was:
- I got all the letters from the union confirming the amounts I have paid – this was one when I stared and then another detailing a minor adjustment in April. I also checked my bank statements to make sure that they agreed with what the union said. I made a note of the amounts.
- I made sure I had my National Insurance number.
- I phoned HMRC on 0845 300 0627.
- I followed the menus through to the one that said I had the wrong tax code.
- A helpful lady answered and I told her that I wanted to claim tax relief for my union payments..
- She confirmed the union (UCU) and that this was the legitimate union for my role and grade.
- She then took the financial details and confirmed that I would get a cheque for the amount of the union dues I had paid in the 2011 – 2012 tax year (which amounted to a refund of £12.00 odd, and arrived a couple of weeks later).
- She also confirmed what my new tax code would be, and told me to check that my tax code was adjusted in my next pay slip.
- My next pay slip had the new code – and I have been taking home a few quid extra each month as a result.
I would urge everyone who has switched to Direct Debit to do
the same. If you haven’t done this you are paying extra money to the tax man
that you don’t need to. It may seem a hassle, but over a year it’s an extra £50
- £60 for ten minutes work. Not a bad rate – and why give even more money to
this rotten government anyway when you don’t have to?
There is also some useful guidance at:
