Getting UK HMRC to recognise my UK State Pension as not receiving the yearly increases.

[lungbing]

Early last month I raised an official complaint with HMRC which they have to look into within a limited time.  They took about a week longer than that time but the officer investigating my complaint replied, apologised for the delay and said she agreed completely with my complaint and had set my tax code back to what it should be.    But she basically blamed the pension people.  Quote from her email

 

  "The state pension are informing us that your pension is going up each year so that causes your tax code to be changed until you contact us to revert it back to the original state pension amount. This is the contact number for state pension 0800 731 7898  if you give them a call and explain the situation it will stop you having to contact us each year."  unquote

 

So I've got a year to do that.   God willing, I'll report back next March when the new tax codes are issued!

[MartinL]

38 minutes ago, lungbing said:

Early last month I raised an official complaint with HMRC which they have to look into within a limited time.  They took about a week longer than that time but the officer investigating my complaint replied, apologised for the delay and said she agreed completely with my complaint and had set my tax code back to what it should be.    But she basically blamed the pension people.  Quote from her email

 

  "The state pension are informing us that your pension is going up each year so that causes your tax code to be changed until you contact us to revert it back to the original state pension amount. This is the contact number for state pension 0800 731 7898  if you give them a call and explain the situation it will stop you having to contact us each year."  unquote

 

So I've got a year to do that.   God willing, I'll report back next March when the new tax codes are issued!

 

In my complaint to HMRC (see earlier in this thread and its subsequent reply), I specifically mentioned that I didn't believe it was a DWP error because there was no move on DWP's part to increase my (frozen) pension every year. They didn't contradict that statement in their reply. I just don't believe they'd freeze a pension on the one hand and tell HMRC it's had a CoL increase on the other - it defies logic.

 

Thinking about it, I must be daft to expect logic from civil servants.

[Pumpuynarak]

On 2/23/2025 at 11:31 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

 

Complaint lodged.....

 

 

On 2/27/2025 at 7:21 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

 

Great result and TFP, lets hope they actually do what they say, ime that is not always the case. I look forward to receiving the same good news.

 

Well here's there reply. So it looks like the problem is solved but like BM MartinL i will have to wait and see if what they say is in fact correct. They have made no mention of any overpayments in tax in previous years being refunded to me so it looks like i will have to reply accordingly but i don't know if i can be bothered, the amount is no big deal.

 

 

[durhamboy]

I have been having the same problem and, having now read this thread, it is apparent that the problem is endemic. So a few thoughts and questions :-

 

1. Is it HMRC or DWP that are assuming the erroneous triple lock increases? DWP told me twice (in phone calls) that it is not them. My feeling is that it is HMRC that are instigating the problem but I'm not sure.

 

2. Is there anyone here whose SP is frozen and the correct amount is reported by HMRC in their Gateway a/c and they did not have to contact HMRC or DWP to correct it? In essence, does the system work properly for anyone?

 

3. Imo freezing our SPs is morally, and possibly legally, wrong. HMG expect us to be honest and tell them where we live so they can freeze them whilst we are having to pay tax on non-existent increases. So if anyone decides to inform DWP that they are relocating back to the UK when they are not then who can blame them? If they happen to be caught out doing this then the mitigation in any very unlikely court case would be "well you're taxing me as if I am back in the UK".

[Pumpuynarak]

20 hours ago, durhamboy said:

1. Is it HMRC or DWP that are assuming the erroneous triple lock increases? DWP told me twice (in phone calls) that it is not them. My feeling is that it is HMRC that are instigating the problem but I'm not sure.

 

I think that you are right, its HMRC applying the triple lock increases to every recipient of the SP irrespective of whether they are actually in receipt of the increase or not. When in touch by telephone they will always refer you to the DWP to have the issue corrected but the DWP will only send you a statement to show what your SP is for the current tax year unless you also request previous years.

You then have to forward to HMRC, so in effect you are doing the DWP's work for them UNLESS you make a complaint direct to HMRC, that seems to work (see my and BM MartinL 's HMRC reply)