Don't delay claiming a tax refund

If you are due for an income tax refund of Pay As You Earn (PAYE), claim now says a leading accountancy body. The message comes as HMRC plans to change over its IT system for PAYE, a process which is expected to take three weeks. Repayments during that time will undoubtedly take longer.

Anita Monteith, Technical Manager at the ICAEW Tax Faculty, said: "HMRC has to update its IT systems which is never an easy thing. With HMRC's technology track record, there will no doubt be problems while the work takes place.

"There is no guarantee that it will be completed in three weeks. We think that this will extend the time taken for repayments involving PAYE which will be difficult, if not impossible during this time."