Rent Relief different for flat mate

martycronin

Hi all,

I've been sharing my current apartment for the past 2 and a bit years. We both applied for rent relief a few weeks ago and we just got the payments.

The thing is, I got over 1,500 in my account and my flat mate only got 300.

We've been living here for the same amount of time and I only pay 50euro per month more (Rent works out at around 1000). So why the big divide?

Her job doesn't pay as much as mine, so she doesn't pay as much tax. ( I earn about twice as much per annum), but doesn't it seem strange that I get far more?

Can anyone advise as to whether this is accurate or a mistake? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

Itchianus

martycronin wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been sharing my current apartment for the past 2 and a bit years. We both applied for rent relief a few weeks ago and we just got the payments.

The thing is, I got over 1,500 in my account and my flat mate only got 300.

We've been living here for the same amount of time and I only pay 50euro per month more (Rent works out at around 1000). So why the big divide?

Her job doesn't pay as much as mine, so she doesn't pay as much tax. ( I earn about twice as much per annum), but doesn't it seem strange that I get far more?

Can anyone advise as to whether this is accurate or a mistake? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

You're basically asking a question about apples, oranges and the length of a piece of string..!!

When you apply for rent relief for prior years, you are actually requesting a review of your tax in those years, as well as the issuing of the additional tax credit.

Since the credit was capped at <400 quid the last couple of years, then clearly you got back more than just the rent credit - you had already overpaid your PAYE in those years.

Conversely, your housemate must've underpaid a few quid in one or both years, and this reduced the refund generated by the rent credit. Either that, or she had only paid 300 quid in tax so that's all she can get back. (piece of string - because I dunno her pay/tax details)

It's apples & oranges, because your incomes and tax deductions differ. The answer to your question is on your P21 balancing statements, which will issue by paper if you applied by paper, or via PAYE anytime if that's how you applied. It will show which / how much tax credits you have. So compare figures, then you'll know whether there actually was a difference.

martycronin

Thanks for that.
She got her P21s in the post, but I didn't, so I can't really compare.

She definitely paid more than 300 in tax, though, no question.

Is there anywhere she can go to query it?

Itchianus

martycronin wrote: »

Thanks for that.
She got her P21s in the post, but I didn't, so I can't really compare.

She definitely paid more than 300 in tax, though, no question.

Is there anywhere she can go to query it?

If she has her P21 then she can check it herself. All the figures are there.

Income x appropriate tax rates = tax
Tax - tax credits = tax payable (here she needs to check her tax credits are all correct, and none missing)
Tax payable - PAYE paid = tax due (if positive) or refund due (if negative).

martycronin

Sound, many thanks for the info!