OT-M1 Tax Refund

Is a Tax Refund likely to succeed if one's Tax Code is OT-M1 (emergency tax code) after an IB SA (first timer in UK)? Or is it REQUIRED to get the tax code changed to something like 1257L before making the tax refund application??

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So you're on the emergency tax code because HMRC don't know enough about your income/tax status?

This is extremely normal. Regarding why it's happened after the IB SA... This could be that you haven't provided enough info, or the bank hasn't provided info...

  • Regarding the likelihood of success of a refund: guaranteed. If you can prove that you have overpaid tax, then a refund should be guaranteed. The timeline will depend on how complex the miscalculation is and how long it takes for HMRC to review the case.
  • Regarding changing your tax code: it shouldn't matter, but I would change it anyway. You can get a refund under OT-M1. It would simplify things to get the correct tax code though, and would avoid this happening in the future.

Personally, I would get the correct tax code and then move forward with the refund application.

You can contact HMRC, but there is ALWAYS a 30 minute wait-time over the telephone, so factor this in.

If you have any queries related to career development, settling in, cultural differences, potential exits or lateral hires... Then please do reach out via the WSO Mentor scheme, I'd be happy to help.

 

Thank you very much! Anecdotally, do IB firms often give National Insurance Contribution refunds to interns who are non–UK nationals who only ever lived in UK just for the duration of the (10-week) summer internship (my reading of the HMRC website seems to imply that it's possible)?

 

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