Do I Really Need To Claim via Self Assesment

by **jotei66** on Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:25 pm

Hi,

New member, so hello.
I am afraid I a complete novice when it comes to tax and refunds etc.. and I hoping someone more experienced could advise me further.
I worked for a caring agency for 3 years and claimed my petrol expenses via P87 for periods: 2008-2009 / 2009 -2010 / 2010-2011. These were all submitted together (as separate P87 obviously) to claim back fuel.
Now period 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 I received payment for these around October last year.
However the tax office dealing with them returned my 2010-2011 P87 claiming it was over £2500 and I would need to claim via self assessment. But the thing is (as I explained to the tax people at the time) this included mobile phone/food which I was told on the two previous P87 would not be paid (I didn't realise,I believed you could claim these) Therefore once you take these off my P87 for 2010-2011 my claim is infact less than £2500 anyway?!
All I am wanting is to claim the petrol expenses (I ain't bothered about mobile/food, realise I cant claim them), so I looked at the Self Assessment route to continue the claim back and it seems sooo complicated compared to claiming back via P87, I don't even know where to start?!?
I have since lost the job and now claim Jobseekers Allowance (past 2 months) due to contract ending with company.
Is it possible for me just to resubmit my original P87 (removing the mobile/food claims) to ensure it is below the £2500 threshold or would they flag up my previous P87 and knock it back regardless? Or is the Self Assessment the best route?
If I do have to go down the self assessment route, when you are only claiming back actual petrol expenses, do I have to complete the whole thing? Sorry I am just very confused and the thought of Self Assessment is daunting and long winded. I have requested a PIN to complete one online as I believe I need to do it before 31st January.
Sorry its long winded, any advice, help or assistance would be very much appreciated.

Ged ;0)

by **mullet** on Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:05 pm

It may well be worth submitting another P87 below the magic figure of £2,500, as HMRC sends work all over the place and even if dealt with in the same office as before it will almost certainly be picked up by a different person. It's worth a try. Yes, if you have to complete a self assessment it must contain all relevant information/figures/pages etc for the year - not just the part relating to your claim.

by **nikkisizer** on Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:08 am

Hi Ged,

jotei66 wrote:However the tax office dealing with them returned my 2010-2011 P87 claiming it was over £2500 and I would need to claim via self assessment.

If the tax office have already issued you with a notice that you need to complete a tax return for 2010-2011 you will have to submit it so there would be no point in sending in a P87.

If you need any further help please do not hesitate to contact me.