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Can you claim back £100s of tax?
Check this to see if you've contributed to £200 million+ overpayment
Does the taxman owe you money? It usually won't come knocking, you'll need to ask for a rebate. Now's the perfect time to check for the last tax year (2008-9), which ended in April (and up to six years prior), as you've still enough time to sort it before returns need filing at the end of January. Here's the checklist...
- On a low income with savings? 20% tax is automatically deducted from savings interest (except untaxed ISAs). Yet everyone's allowed to earn £6,475 (£6,035 in 08/09) before paying tax (up to £9,640 for over-65s), so if you didn't hit that, claim back savings tax (see the Savers' rebates MSE News story).
- Higher rate taxpayer paying into a private pension? You automatically get a 20% tax rebate on contributions, but higher rate taxpayers are due a 40% rebate and must claim the extra cash themselves (more in the Savers' rebate story).
- Do your kids have savings? Kids too can earn £6,475 before paying tax, but they rarely hit it so most aren't taxpayers. For savings interest, if you signed an R85 form, no tax is taken off; if not ask, for a rebate (more in the Children's Savings guide).
- Self employed low earner? If you earn under £5,075 a year you may have overpaid National Insurance (see the DirectGov site). If you made a loss in a tax year, you can currently deduct it from the previous 3yrs' profits and reclaim some tax paid (see HMRC website).
- Charity-giving higher rate taxpayer? If you donated via the 'gift aid' scheme, charities reclaim 20% tax, but higher rate taxpayers can reclaim a further 20% or donate it (see the Charity Giving guide).
- On an emergency or wrong tax code? This happens when your employer has limited info on your past earnings and it often means you overpay tax (see the DirectGov website).
- Did you stop working mid-tax year (including students)? Deductions usually assume a full year's work, so if you only worked for part, it's likely you've overpaid (see HMRC website and Student MoneySaving guide).
These are just a flavour; there are many others too, such as having more than one job. If anything out of the ordinary's happened, check what you're due. The Income Tax Checker gives a rough idea. Discuss this: Tax Rebate
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| The Ones Not To Miss |
New Tool! Find the max price for selling your old mobile + £5 boost
Get £100s for old mobiles. MSE MobileValuer.com compares recycling companies
The telly's full of ads from sites wanting to buy old mobiles, yet the amounts paid vary per site and per handset. New free tool: Our unique Mobile Selling Comparison tool instantly tells you what each of the main sites will pay. How much is possible? The iPhone 3G result shows the lowest at £110 and the highest £175, but some handsets are sub-£5. £5 booster code: The tool also lists codes, eg, the current £5 Love2Recycle* bonus, if you've a phone worth over £20 and enter code 78900. Though always compare first to see if it's beatable. How mobile recycling sites work: Once you agree to sell, they send a freepost bag for it, you post it, they give you the cash. Tool & full info: MobileValuer.com Related: Cheap Mobiles, Haggle Your Mobile Bill
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Free £6.50 album download & month's free music streaming
We've blagged this exclusive Sky Songs code, and it'll work for up to 15,000 over-18s
Unlimited music via your PC & internet for a month, plus a free album (or 10 tracks) to keep. Forum Note: Free Downloads
3 for 1 deal on Pringles, Pepsi & more
Buy one, get two free at Morrisons until 22 Nov. Stock up for Xmas
Also valid on Ragu pasta sauces and more, for full info see the Deals Note: High Street Sales
Cheapest superfast broadband £11 a month
Only a fiver more than normal broadband, but not everyone can get it
Standard speeds are up up to 8Mbps, though most really get half that (do a speed test), while superfast is usually up to 24Mbps. Is superfast worth it? It won't really impact web surfing, its strength's for online gaming, streaming HD TV, and downloading. After checking providers' sites to see if you can get it, as it's how near to a BT exchange that's key. Check neighbours' experiences via StreetStats; anything over 8Mbps is a good result. £11/mth: O2 Premium* is £14.70/mth (£9.80 for its mobile customers), yet it's giving 3mths free, so the avg. over the 1yr contract is £11/mth (£7.30) - check cashback sites for big moneyback too. £16.20/mth inc. line rental: Orange Max is £20/mth (£17 for its mobile customers) inc. phone line rental, worth c. £11 alone plus sign up via SimplifyDigital* for £50 cashback, making the avg. cost over the 18mth contract £16.14/mth (£13.13). Cheapest Standard Deal: Plusnet's* £5.99/mth. FULL info & more best buys in the Updated Guide: Cheapest Broadband Related: Home Phones, Gas & Elec
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Free Milka 100g Chocolate Bar (worth c.£1)
Register 'n' print coupon, redeem at any participating retailer (most major supermarkets)
Joins free Hovis bread, free Candia milk and other discount coupons in the Deals List: Supermarket Coupons
Urgent. Pizza Express (inc. Fri & Sat) & Ha ha 2for1s
New Restaurant Vouchers! Plus Zizzi 2 courses for £10 & Giraffe buy 1, get 1 for £1
Joins La Tasca 50% off and Morrison's £8 meal and wine deal Daily Deals List: Restaurant Vouchers
Urgent! Check if your fixed rate savings are ending
The base rate crash was over a year ago - those who grabbed 1yr high rate fixes could be losing cash
On 6 Nov last year, the Bank of England sensationally slashed interest from 4.5% to 3%. Did you fix? As the announcement rang out, we sent a special email urging anyone prepared to sacrifice access to savings to consider a high fixed rate - at a whopping 7.1% AER. Yet, now these deals are ending, and your cash is usually shifted to pitiful sub-1% interest accounts, you need to act urgently to shift it to the best-buy. Top 1yr fix: The top 1yr fix is a guaranteed 3.95% AER for 12 months from NS&I (min £500 up to £1million) and, as it's government owned, the cash is totally safe. Top Easy Access: If you need access to the cash, the Ulster Bank Pathway account pays 3.6% variable if you've £10,000 plus, though 1% of this is a 6mth bonus. FULL info & more best buys in the Updated Guide: Top Savings Related: Savings Safety
Instant Gap 30% off, Oasis online 20%, La Senza 20%
New Vouchers & Codes! These, plus JJB Sports £5 off with £30 spend
Joins Coast £30 off, Reiss free £20 gift card and Jane Norman 20% off in store, in the Daily Deals List: Shopping Vouchers
Got friends who'd like to save? Please tell them about this email
Now more choice. Tesco loophole! Make £11 buying a CD/DVD
Now includes Robbie Williams CD and Harry Potter & Bruno DVDs. Starts Wed
Eg, buy Robbie's £8.95 CD & get 500 Clubcard points, convertible to £20 Tesco rewards. Full Info: Tesco Clubcard Loophole
New Top FREE Antivirus software
Free, professional protection from web nasties and cybercriminals
Cybercriminals love Christmas, as more of us are making payments online, so there's more chance for nasties (last year, 24 Nov was supposedly worst date for viruses). You may be liable for fraud without antivirus. If you're defrauded, without updated anti-virus software and a firewall, it can be seen as negligence, giving banks a potential opt-out of refunding you. Free Antivirus Software: There've been two new entrants offering free PC software this year, so now there are four in total. For ease of use, Microsoft's Security Essentials wins while, for more techie appeal, there's Avira Antivir. FULL info on how to get them free, and more protection software in the Updated Guide: Free Anti-Virus Software Related: Free Office Software, Stop Junk Mail
1,000s x £1 rooms at 19 Campanile UK hotels
Budget hotel chain has 1,000s of rooms for stays between 1 Dec-31 Jan
Plus 360,000 £29 rooms at 4* UK wide Premier Inns (must book 21 days in advance). See the Deals Note: Hotel Sales
Bank charges Supreme Court result next Wed 25 November. Read Bank Charges D-Day News story.
Uggs-for-£120 code (usually c. £150)
Ugg discounts are rare so go quick - short £120, tall £152
Via a 20% off at Shudoo code; see the Deals Note: Cheap Ugg Boots
How to haggle on the high street. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Revisited. Slash what you pay for almost anything you buy
You can get £100s off by haggling at stores, including John Lewis, Comet & New Look or call centres for broadband, digital TV, car insurance and more. Midweek, before it gets super-busy for Christmas, those in the know can save £100s, and the very worst case scenario is you get a "no". Video Of The Week: This tells the tale of one powerhouse haggler who's successfully cut costs in a host of high street and designer stores; see how she did it. Lots more tips in the Full Guide & Video: Haggle on the High St |
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Sub-£100 high spec Philips Blu-Ray player (was £160).
The cheapest mainstream deal we've seen for a branded high def player
Plus more cheap high def boxes in the Deals Note: Cheap Blu Ray Players
Top 0% 'All-Rounder' Credit Card
Gives 10 mths 0% on new spending & balance transfers and reduces applications
Using a card with deals both for debt shifted to it and for new spending (if you need to borrow) means just one application, which is helpful for your Credit Score, but the deals are easily beatable using separate cards. Top double 0% card: Successful new Sainsbury's card applicants get 0% for 10 mths on new spending, and can shift existing debts to it at the same rate (for a 3% fee). After that, it jumps to 15.9% APR, so either repay it in full or shift the debts again by then. Alternatively, Halifax's* card is 9 mths 0% on both, with a 3% balance transfer fee (then 15.9%). 16mths 0% Balance Transfer: To just shift existing debts, Virgin* is 0% for 16 mths with a 2.98% fee (18.6% after). 12mths 0% on Spending: Tesco is 0% for a year (16.9% after), plus rewards points. What about the Golden Rule? Usually we say "never spend on a balance transfer card", but if the two 0% periods exactly match, they're prevented from playing the usual nasty tricks. Updated Guides: Balance Transfers, 0% Cards
£15 Eurotunnel day returns (usually £90)
Folkestone-Calais returns for cars, vans and motorbikes and all passengers. Go quick!
Valid for 1-day trips on a Tues, Weds or Thurs, until 17 Dec. See the Deals Note: £15 Eurotunnel Returns
Have you used 'postal gold' companies?
We're checking them out and want to know if they paid you what they promised. Please help
You'll have seen them advertised everywhere: postal gold companies, where you pop your old jewellery in an envelope, they melt it down and send you a cheque, have boomed in the past couple of months. How reliable are they? We’re researching a guide to selling old gold, and need help from folks who’ve used these companies, to find out if they actually deliver the amount of cash promised. Please feedback on any sites you’ve used. Forum thread: Gold Company Feedback
Debenhams 4-day sale. Weds-Sat.
In-store and online, with reductions across all departments
Inc. up to 50% off homeware, 25% off womenswear and 10% off cosmetics & fragrances. Full info in the Daily Deals List: High Street Sales
Want a TV money makeover by Martin? ITV1 Tonight's looking for case studies. Find out more
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| Big & Easy Ways To Save |
| Quick links or click the titles for full pros, cons, alternatives & more savings |
- Cheap Gas & Elec + Cashback! Top comparison site: Energyhelpline*
- Car Insurance: Use both MoneySupermarket* & GoCompare* Also see: Van, Motorbike
- Top Uninsured Loans: £7.5k-15k: A&L*, Sainsburys 8%, Tesco 8% (can be 7.8%)
- Top Bank Account: Top Pick. Overdraft A&L* (1yr 0%). In-Credit: Earn £23k+ First Direct* (£100 bonus), if not Halifax*
- Cheap Travel Ins: Annual policies from £15, worldwide £21. See Cheap Travel Ins
- Free Budget Planner: Use the free planner or do a complete Money Makeover
- Cut Home Bills: Read full guides on Cheap Home Ins, Cheap Boiler Cover, Grant Grabbing
- Reclaim £1,000s: Full Mortgage Fees, C'cil Tax, Endowments, Bank Charges, PPI guides
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| More MoneySaving |
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5% off 1st and 2nd class stamps for Xmas cards
At Morrisons until 22 Nov. First time we've seen 2nd class discounted.
Superdrug's is only on 1st-class. See the Deals Note: Stamp Down Costs
MSE Charity consumer education projects
Apply by 30 Nov. Available for debt & consumer education projects for charities or good causes
Each month, this site donates money to charity; a third goes to five charities selected by site users, and two-thirds to the MSE Charity, which provides grants to individuals and organisations, to promote financial & debt education. Projects supported so far: Including education projects for Mind, helping local CABs and supporting the anti-scam Think Jessica campaign. So far £150,000 has been given (see a selection of grants). Next application round: The closing date for the next tranche of group grants is 30 Nov; to apply, see The MSE Charity Related: The MSE Charity Fund, How this Site is Financed
Great 'How to Use Up Old Booze' Hunt
British households pour £450m worth of wine down the sink every year, according to Wrap. So we'd like to tap MoneySavers for their top tips on using up leftover booze of any description, for example, freezing it in ice cube trays and using for casseroles. What other top tips and recipes do you have? Add your ideas/read other people's: Great 'Old Booze Recipes' Hunt Past Great Hunts: View all
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Archna's Free Game of the Week!
Build your own levels to complete the game. Level Editor
Test the amazing web mind reader! From Jane Eyre to Jenson Button, think of a real or fictional character and this web genie can predict who it is. Magic!
We hope you save some money,
Martin & the MSE team
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Q. What is going on with bank charges reclaiming that some of us have been stuck in for what seems years? Paul, by email.
Martin's A: Well we're about to find out. Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced it would give its judgement next Wed morning. It is considering an appeal by current account providers to challenge previous High Court and Court of Appeal rulings that charges can be assessed for fairness.
However, whatever the Supreme Court's decision, expect further legal wrangling, before we get an end to the saga. Even if it agrees fairness rules apply, the OFT must then decide if the charges are actually unfair - though it has provisionally said it thinks they are unjust.
If they are deemed unfair, it could reopen the reclaiming floodgates. Over a million people currently have cases on hold, though if you're in financial hardship, you can still claim; see the Bank Charges Hardship guide & the Court date set news story.
Discuss: Bank charges latest |
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Suggest: A question of the week
(big general issues not personal q's pls) |
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Explanation of * Links
FSA NOTE: Referring people to insurers or insurance intermediaries can in some circumstances require FSA authorisation. For this reason, Martin Lewis of Shepherd's Studios, Rockley Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W14 0EH is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
How this site is financed. Any links with a * by
them are affiliated. That means go via this link and a contribution may be made
to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay ad-free and free to use. You
shouldn't notice any difference, the links don't impact the product at all and
the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by it. If it isn't
possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it's still included in
exactly the same way. As we believe transparency is important, we're including the
following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for the same things: moneysupermarket.love2recycle.com, broadband.o2.co.uk, simplifydigital.co.uk, plus.net, halifax.co.uk, uk.virginmoney.com, energyhelpline.com, moneysupermarket.com, gocompare.com, alliance-leicester.co.uk, banking.firstdirect.com, talktalk.co.uk, tiscali.co.uk. Read more about this in how this site is financed.
MoneySavingExpert.com is the free to use Consumer Revenge website focused on how to save you cash. It's owned, and run by ultra-focused journalist and bestselling author Martin Lewis. On TV amongst other things Martin is GMTV's Money SavingExpert and presents money programmes for ITV1 Tonight. On Radio Martin has regular slots on Radio 2 Vine and Radio 1 Whiley. He's also a columnist for amongst others the News of The World, The Telegraph and the Sunday Post. Find out more: About the site and its funding.
Disclaimer: This e-mail is based on journalistic research. It does not constitute financial advice. Any information should be considered in regard to your
own specific circumstances. All tips are followed at your own risk and should be followed up with your own research Full Terms & Conditions.
To change your E-mail or stop receiving Tips (unsubscribe): Go to: www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips |
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