Sir – Have I discovered the ultimate ‘stealth tax’ – HM Revenue & Customs charge OAPs like my wife tax on money they don’t even get paid?
Some time ago, the Government asked pensioners to have their money paid into bank accounts every four weeks instead of taking a book to the post office weekly, giving more security to them and savings on administration costs for the DWP.
Obviously there’s no cash in advance, so, just as when starting a new job, it’s four weeks in hand meaning that with just 12 payments each year you only get 48 weeks’ pensions in any year.
Presumably the money in hand will only be paid on eventual death to your heirs or executors.
However, Revenue & Customs expect and demand tax is paid on the whole amount even though with payments in arrears you do not actually have the money to spend.
Multiply that amount of tax by the many pensioners affected, and it must be millions! D S Boyes, Rodley Lane, Bramley, Leeds
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