Different info from tax offices

Former Member

Next awkward question.

I looked at the link Kermit gave me. I rang my tax office, I rang the university.

The university have apparently spoken to their tax office

Mine says not taxable, theirs says taxable.

What on earth do I do now?

One of the reasons I care so much is that currently my various bank accounts are all set up on the 'I'm below the tax limit form' as are the agencies I do temp work through and my summer job because before the university started being silly I was going to be miles under the lower personal limit.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Former Member

Ring your tax enquiry centre and ask them what you can do to sort it out.

It could be a case of having to pay the tax now and then submitting a claim for a rebate, but you want to avoid that as NI contributions can't usually be rebated unless the NI contribution taken incorrectly.

I'm not sure why you would be getting conflicting information, unless there is a specific condition attached to the scholarship that you're not aware of.

Former Member

The only reason I can think of for getting conflicting information is the university being incompetent and asking the tax office the wrong question.

I've checked and double checked with the organisation funding the award/scholarship and their intention was for it to be non taxable and checked the rules and regulations to make sure it wasn't so it's not that there are any correct hidden strings I don't know about. Only thing I can think of is the university have created some.

Thanks for your help

Former Member

That's probably what's happened, if the numpties running this University's payroll are anything to go by.

Ask the tax enquiry centre how you get around the problem, I can't find the answer!

Former Member

Will do, and thanks again.

Think they've pretty much confirmed they are numpties as at one point in the conversation they said they'd paid some of the others ex tax because the university records system had confirmed they were 'in statu pupilliari' (aka: students) and thus not required to pay tax just NI. Which is just so wrong it's hard to believe.

Former Member

You'd think the uni would process these thing on a regular enough basis not to screw it up. :yeees:

Paying the tax now and then having to claim it back later is extra paperwork/hassle you dont need. You do need to watch your NI limit wont go over £5715 (savings interest isnt NI'able, just taxable) as Kermit said, you cant claim back over/wrongly paid NI. Phone the tax office back and ask them to confirm the bit of legislation (you can say your having problems with the uni) that confirms the tax free status. Then phone the uni and tell them that because of xyz then you should be tax-free, put it in writing as well and ask them to confirm either way and why in writing.