Had a problem with payroll year end returns yesterday - system wouldn't accept a P14, I knew why - director who had paid NI on salary for the first 7 months then taken no salary for the last 7 months therefore when NI was annualised a full refund resulted. The P14 showed figures in 1a, 1b, 1c and nil in 1e and 1f.
Computer said No.
I tried putting the figures in 1e and 1f with an R at the beginning, then at the end. Computer said No both times.
Resorted to the Helpline. Negotiated the two menus then hung on, and on and on, told client I'd make everyone a cup of tea as I was sure that would get me through to an adviser. Sure enough the kettle was just about to boil when I eventually got a person. Probably about 20 minutes in all and on an 0845 number.
Explained the situation only to be told I needed the Employer helpline not the helpline I'd rung which was on the stuff I'd got from them. I was then asked if the company was over 3 years old (it was) as apparently they have different helplines depending on whether a company is younger than 3 years or older!!!!!
Rang the number I was given, went through the menus again, didn't have to wait quite as long, started to explain but as soon as I got to the director bit was told I would need to talk to someone else whose speciality that was. Then I spoke to a wonderful lady who knew exactly what I was talking about. If anyone else has the same problem the solution is to put the NI code as X (rather than A) and put zeros in all the boxes. That simple - then computer says Yes.
Your post made amusing reading. I'm going to be doing my year end online shortly, and I have a Director to deal with, but she should be straightforward. Thanks for the info tho!
I am having the exact same problem, though I was going through sage, waited on the phone for ages only to be told not our problem you need hmrc, kept hanging on phone for 45 mins no reply.
Have to try again tomorrow.
I am getting really fed up with sage at the moment with them saying not our problem, the last time I rang them before buying a windows 7 tower, told no no issues arghhhhhhhhhhh, then they said after I bought it oh it is not our problem a third party issue.
