Freelance. Employer gave me an NT tax code. Help

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I did some work for channel 5 last year and child tax credits (of which I pay none) recently flagged up a problem. The amount I claimed I earned was different from what they had on record, because I had submitted everything as freelance work. Channel 5 had stuck an NT tax code on me for their submission (usually for people from another country paying tax elsewhere or some other special reason). I can't even get through to the payroll for ask them to submit a EYU (as I was told to do or there would be trouble from the HMRC). Apparently it's up to me to sort it out, but I am not sure what I can do.
I thought it was a one off odd mistake, but on going over my old returns, when I worked for channel 5 the year before that . . . they did the same thing, which makes me think it's their policy to do so. I searched the web and saw no other freelancers mention it. What can I do? This is obviously going to cause me grief when I submit my tax return, and I would imagine HMRC phones are currently clogged up to the max.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

If you can't get through to their payroll dept, and if you can't find an e-mail address one option would be to write to them special delivery so they can't deny receiving it. I'd ask them if it was their policy and if so, ask for a copy of it.

Writing to them would give you a paper trail if HMRC get stroppy.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

If you can't get through to their payroll dept, and if you can't find an e-mail address one option would be to write to them special delivery so they can't deny receiving it. I'd ask them if it was their policy and if so, ask for a copy of it.

Writing to them would give you a paper trail if HMRC get stroppy.

Well this is the other problem. I'm not sure how to get to their payroll. No address. It seems to be run by another company but I'm not sure I'm being given the correct information. It may have gone through Viacom and then out to another company abroad. There are no details on my invoice and nobody I can contact directly who seems to have the foggiest.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Well this is the other problem. I'm not sure how to get to their payroll. No address. It seems to be run by another company but I'm not sure I'm being given the correct information. It may have gone through Viacom and then out to another company abroad. There are no details on my invoice and nobody I can contact directly who seems to have the foggiest.

Couldnt you just write to Channel 5 themselves and ask them to liaise with whichever company they outsource payroll to? It'd be difficult for them to refuse - and the least they could do is refer your letter on, or give you the right contact details.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Couldnt you just write to Channel 5 themselves and ask them to liaise with whichever company they outsource payroll to? It'd be difficult for them to refuse - and the least they could do is refer your letter on, or give you the right contact details.

I can't even phone channel 5 and get through to the right people. I mean I can post a letter to the channel 5 building in Camden, but fuck knows if it will actually get who it is supposed to.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Also, they seem to be setting the NT code as standard, so I doubt they would be interested in doing anything their end unless the HMRC lean on them. It can't just be me.

 

[strung out]

You need to contact HMRC, they're the only people who can change your tax code, and they will tell the Channel 5 payroll what to change it to.

 

[strung out]

Also, NT just means that Channel 5 aren't paying any tax for you via PAYE. If you're freelancing and submitting your own tax return, that sounds about right.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

You need to contact HMRC, they're the only people who can change your tax code, and they will tell the Channel 5 payroll what to change it to.

I think so, it's just a pain. Originally they told me it was up to me to contact channel 5 and get them to issue an EYU, but clearly that's not working.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Child tax credits were trying to force me on the phone to say the amount was correct so that they could officially close the matter. That would mean me agreeing I got double the pay from channel 5. They just kept repeating a statement, that I assume was on the screen in front of them, and ignoring what I was telling them. It was like being in Brazil (the film).