Tax Information

Redundancy payments up to £30,000 in the course of working for any one company are normally free of tax. Anything above £30,000 is taxed at your highest rate.

Completing your tax return
Tax on Job Seekers' Allowance
Tax on relocation packages
When are Redundancy payments not tax free?
An alternative to redundancy payments?
On your return to employment

When you are made redundant your employer should give you a P45 form. Give this to the benefits office or your next employer.

HELP WITH COMPLETION OF YOUR TAX  RETURN

WITH RESPECT TO LUMP SUMS AND COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
Inland Revenue (HELP SHEET IR204) 

If you have received a lump sum from your employer as a redundancy or compensation payment, this sheet will help you complete the employment pages of your tax return.

The first £30,000 of such a payment are usually exempt of tax.  Payments from two companies that are under one control, qualify for only the one exemption.  If payments span across a number of financial years, then any unused exemption may be carried over to the following year.

INCOME TAX AND JOB SEEKERS

Inland Revenue (HELP SHEET IR41)

Jobseeker's  Allowance replaced Unemployment Benefit and Income Support for unemployed people in October 1996.  Unemployed people can claim this allowance for themselves and one adult dependent.  This allowance is a taxable income.
This leaflet answers the frequently asked questions.

If you are not working at the end of the year (April 5th) you will get a P60U form. This details the taxable benefits you have received and the tax that you have paid.

You can not claim a PAYE tax refund while you are claiming benefit. When you get a job, complete the form at the back of booklet ES40 (which gives details about signing on) and return it. The job centre will then give you a P45 for your new employer. If you have paid too much tax your new employer or your job centre will give you a refund.

INCOME TAX AND RELOCATION PACKAGES

Inland Revenue (HELP SHEET IR134)

If a job requires that you move to a new area, the first £8,000 of any help that you receive from your employer is exempt form tax, providing that certain conditions are met.  Expenses associated with buying and selling a home, moving and travelling are included.

When are redundancy payments NOT tax free?

When your employment contract specifies any redundancy pay or benefits. If this is the case any benefits are taxable.

An alternative to redundancy payments?

It may be possible to negotiate with your employer to made additional payments into your pension instead of making a redundancy payment. This will enhance your pension and help you avoid paying tax on those payments above £30,000!

On your return to employment

Don't forget to hand over your P45! If you don't you will end up on an emergency tax band and pay extra tax until it is sorted out.

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