Existing Volunteers
Membership Site

Regional Co-ordinators
and Trustees Area

Welcome

Details of the personal allowances
for 2009/10 and 20010/11 are on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

See Below for Budget News

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We are an independent free tax advice service for older people on low incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional advice.

Do you worry about your tax affairs?

Do you know if you are paying the right amount of tax?

Are you afraid of approaching HM Revenue & Customs for help?

We may be able to help you. If your household income is less than Ł17,000 per year and you are a pensioner you will qualify for free tax advice from T.O.P

It doesn't matter where you live in the UK, we have a team of over 720 volunteers available and one probably lives near you. If we cannot arrange a face to face meeting, we will always offer advice by telephone or post.

T.O.P. - TaxHelp for Older People is a service originally provided through the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (associated with the Chartered Institute of Taxation) but is now provided by Tax Volunteers, an independent organisation, to make free professional advice on personal tax available to older people who could not otherwise afford to pay for it.

If you have any queries, contact TOP on the helpline:

0845 601 3321

01308 488066

or write to: TaxHelp for Older People
Pineapple Business Park, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5DB

E-mail taxvol@taxvol.org.uk

Patron - The Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe

Click Here for information on the Blind Persons Allowance.

RC ADVERT

TaxHelp for Older People: seeks a Regional Co-ordinator in the West Midlands* area to supervise the existing structure and extend the operations of this nationwide charity which provides pro bono tax advice to older people on low incomes. We are currently seeking to appoint a successor to the retiring RC on a flexible one day a week basis, recruiting and training new volunteer advisers, liaising with voluntary & statutory agencies and developing and marketing the scheme across the region, salary based on Ł5000 per annum per day + expenses. For information pack call 0845 601 3321 or e-mail paddy.millard@taxvol.org.uk . To discuss, call the Director, Paddy Millard, on 0845 601 3321. Interviews will take place in July/August with a start date as soon as possible on appointment.

Applicants for the post should be able to have control over their diaries to be able to undertake the work as required on any weekday, so the post may be more suited to the retired or the sole practitioner.

* The region is rather loosely defined and the present RC ranges between Shrewsbury, Gloucester and Leamington as well as the main conurbations of Birmingham, Wolverhampton etc.

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BUDGET NEWS - June 22nd

The main budget changes will not come into place until April 2011. The few that affect our clients will be posted on this site nearer the time. One change that started at midnight on 22nd June was the increase of the rate of tax on Capital Gains for higher rate tax payers. You may think it doesn't concern you but beware a gain can now push you into the higher rate band so it needs to be considered.

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Errors on 2010/11 Coding Notices

HMRC have aknowledged that there are errors on the 2010/11 coding notices. If you believe that yours may be wrong contact HMRC on 0845 3000 627. If this does not resolve the problem or you would like an independent check please call TOP on 0845 601 3321 or 01308 488066.

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BEREAVEMENT & THE TAX SYSTEM

See the latest recommendations on the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group website

Or follow this link Bereavement & the Tax System

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Have you over paid your Tax? Then read on

Tax Back - Change in Deadlines

This is the time to check if you are owed any tax. In the past you could claim back over paid tax going back for 6 years but from 2010 this is being changed to 4 years. We have listed the deadlines below. Please call our helpline if you would like us to check if you are eligible.

Year

Deadline for SA Taxpayers

Deadlines for PAYE Taxpayers

2003-04

31/01/2010

31/01/2010

2004-05

31/03/2010

31/01/2011

2005-06

05/04/2010

31/01/2012

2006-07

05/04/2011

31/03/2012

2007/08

05/04/2012

05/04/2012

2008/09

05/04/2013

05/04/2013

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Frauds and Scam emails (phishing)

HMRC wants to make sure you can recognise a fraudulent email if you receive one. If you have received an email that you consider to be fraudulent, please forward it to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. HMRC cannot reply to every email, but it does investigate and take such matters very seriously.

To help you spot a scam email, HMRC has compiled a list of key points to look out for:

Disclosing personal information - HMRC will never ask you to disclose personal information such as your PIN or your passwords, or your bank details. Never disclose this information to anyone.

The padlock - when you log in to HMRC Online Services you are always in a 'secure session' - which is shown by the padlock or an unbroken key in the bottom right hand corner of your web browser. The beginning of HMRC's address will change from 'http' to 'https' when a secure connection is made.

Your name - fraudulent emails are not normally addressed to you personally; they can have missing addressee details or contain something vague such as 'Dear valued customer'.

The sender - HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) was formed on 18th April 2005 following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise departments. Those former departmental names no longer exist. Recent fraud attempts have used fake departmental names, and purported to be sent from HMRC Board Members.

Links within the email - the email may include a link that you are asked to follow to take you to a website. When a mouse hovers over a link it will often show the underlying URL. If this is different to the one typed in the email do not click on it. Following the link could take you to a site that might look genuine but is most probably a fake, and merely clicking on the link could download malicious software to your computer systems. Always check the site shown in the address bar and if you have any concerns at all, go in via the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk.

What to do if you receive a scam email

HMRC would never contact you asking you to disclose personal information. If you have received an email requesting personal information or payment of tax, or suggesting that you are due a tax rebate, please take the following action:

do not click on any links included in the email;

send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk then delete it;

if you suspect that your security may have been compromised, run your anti-virus and anti-spyware software applications to check your hard drives for infections; and

review the advice featured on Get Safe Online (opens new window) on rectifying common online security problems.

TAXATION AT RETIREMENT HANDBOOK 10/11

(9/10 handbook with addendum - call if you just need the addendum)

Available Now

Ł5.00 each + POSTAGE (60p)

10 to 49 copies Ł4.00 each + postage

50 plus copies or charities Ł3.50 each + postage

This handbook has been produced by the charity TaxHelp for Older people (TOP) in collaboration with Life Academy, the pre-retirement specialist institute. Our aim is to anticipate and avert the tax problems which all to often beset people at retirement. It is not a complete guide to personal tax but focuses on the salient points around the time of retirement.

Orders can be placed via the helpline - please see details above

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For the latest news and general guidance on tax topics visit the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group web site www.litrg.org.uk

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If you have received a tax return for 2009/10, it must be submitted to HMRC by 31 October 2010 (Paper) or 31 January 2011 (Online)

Don't forget, you do not have to make a return unless one has been issued to you, unless you have an untaxed source of income of which HMRC is not aware (eg, started letting a property in 2009/10) or have made a large Capital Gain

Volunteers... please check membership pages for latest news......

LATEST NEWSLETTER - June 2010

Tax Volunteers is a company limited by guarantee, company no. 4894491
Registered office Artillery House, 11-19 Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT
Registered charity no. 1102276