Overpaid salary

[andyw396]

When I stopped working for a company they continued paying me when I left, for a period of 12 months. I went abroad for a year with a new bank account ( no UK income), and the salary was paid in to an old account.

On return I had a letter saying that the net salary had been paid and that I owed the employer £31,600 ( gross was £39,500) an amount that had tax and NI deducted at source.

I looked at my old account and they were correct, so I transferred the £31600 back.

A friend has told me that I should be able to claim the tax back on the overpaymemt. Is that true ?

Thanks in advance

[bd6759]

No. You haven’t paid tax.

[pawncob]

Are you saying that they continued paying you despite the fact that the employment had ceased?
If so, this might help;https://www.safeworkers.co.uk/employment-law/employer-overpaid-me/

Any tax deducted in error belongs to the employer and it's up to them to sort it out with HMRC.
You weren't actually paid anything, so you've no right to a refund, but I'd check any HMRC tax calculation carefully.

[Jholm]

How an employer could make such a monumental error is beyond me. Must have money to throw away paying non-staff!