Anonymous HMRC Refunds

Anonymous HMRC refunds appearing

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When we receive SA refunds for clients the 'detail' field usually only contains 'HMRC SA' and no other information. This we have noticed since we changed banks (to Metro Bank) as with Santander this was not an issue. I don't know if this is only an issue with Metro, but it seem that because HMRC use a comma in the details field anything after that gets 'dropped'.

Has anyone else, with other banks, had this issue? I know this is a somewhat esoteric question and a week or so later we ge the paper notification anyway, but I just find it mildly irritating as I'd rather get these things processed and out quickly.

Replies (6)

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By CazzyT
22nd Feb 2019 10:20

We have this problem with HSBC.
As you say, the paper notification arrives afterwards BUT the client often receives the notification earlier and calls up asking for their money - then you have to manually check records to see what belongs to who.
Not the biggest HMRC headache we have but a pain nonetheless.

Thanks (1)
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
22nd Feb 2019 12:25

I’m with Barclays, weirdly refunds in Jan had the narrative as yours, but in Feb had the taxpayers name.

Thanks (1)
By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
22nd Feb 2019 13:00

I am curious.

Why do you take the refunds and then pass to the client?

Why not cut yourself out of the whole deal and enter your client's details?

Or are you working without being paid upfront and getting a fee?

Ive always charged a fee upfront, and only filed on receipt rebate or tax paid both the same.

Thanks (1)
Replying to ireallyshouldknowthisbut:
Should Be Working ... not playing with the car
By should_be_working
22nd Feb 2019 19:43

ireallyshouldknowthisbut wrote:

I am curious.

Why do you take the refunds and then pass to the client?

Why not cut yourself out of the whole deal and enter your client's details?

Or are you working without being paid upfront and getting a fee?

Ive always charged a fee upfront, and only filed on receipt rebate or tax paid both the same.

As it happens we are starting to move away from this situation - we have fewer CIS cases these days (we got fed up with the enquiries), and this 'season' has helped to prepare us for a quieter client account next year.

That being said, with the Class 2 NI refunds still appearing in some cases, and the recent 'glitch' of payments on account being wrongly repaid, it has been useful to capture some of these refunds and deal with them more swiftly.

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Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
22nd Feb 2019 16:35

My firm's bank is HSBC and it's the same. It can get very difficult when half a dozen refunds are deposited in one day. I didnt appreciate that with some banks this problem doesnt exist. I thought it was al banks. Perhaps I'll change banks except for the hassle.
And 'ireallyshouldknowthis'... we deal with a number of sub contractors who have the habit of getting refunds and then not pay our fees.
Each client is aware that this is our practice and has given their written consent.

Thanks (1)
Should Be Working ... not playing with the car
By should_be_working
22nd Feb 2019 19:42

Thanks for all the replies so far.

So it seems this is not just our bank, but depends on the individual bank's systems. I'm guessing that the comma acts as a field separator for some software.

To a layman like me it sounds like it should be a simple change to a line or two of code at HMRC's end to use a dash instead of a comma but ... HMRC!

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