returning home, didn't end up getting an NI number...

hi,
okay, this question stems mainly from my own stupidity, which i accept.
in my defense my time in the uk has been ridiculously busy, and so i just kept putting off booking that ni appointment (but then, so are everybody elses lives... like i said, own stupidity)
so, i've been working under an emergency ni number for over a year, and therefore a ridiculous amount of tax has been taken out of my pay. oh, and to make things better, i never got around to lodging a tax return either...
sooo....

what's the best way of getting tax back, considering that i'll be claiming for my first year in the uk, and also a partial year before my departure?

will it be possible to get back the tax that would be owed to me if i had gotten an ni number? (i actually have an appointment booked, which i made before i made the decision to return home, but it's booked pretty much for the same week that i leave the uk, which i dont think will be any use for me)

how long does it take generally to get the refund? is there a way of getting it faster/immediately?

if you could help this stupid stupid girl out with some advice, she would be eternally grateful

xx

Your best plan of attack is to go to your local tax office, along with all the paperwork you have; mainly wage slips. You should get all your taxed owed from April 06-07 within 5-6 weeks, although you may have to wait until April 08 to get this year's back. Any missing paperwork will delay the process enormously. I had one day's earnings missing at it took an extra 8 weeks. Where in England are you?

Any problems, mail me:
britishbartenders@yahoo.com

Well stupid is right. You got yourself into this mess, get yourself out. The only advice anyone can give you is what BritishBartender has already given. Go to the tax office.

thanks, bartender, nice to know where i stand.
and bp, i'm glad that you are completely perfect and have never made any mistakes. how lovely for you...
idiot

I've certainly never done anything as stupid as you apparently have. No, I hardly think I am the idiot nettleaurina.

that's cool

Hi,

Just saw the replies from those guys and would thought i'd give you my a few words on my experiences with getting my tax back.

I left the uk in June 06, after working there on and off for a couple of years, i never got my ni number and it wasn't an issue. I went through one of the agencies in the back of TNT (i think it was taxback) they take a % of the refund but it was super easy and they will do all of the years you have been there in one hit, in my opinion was the easiest way no headaches.

If I was you I'd go to their website and do the same, the only thing i couldn't get back was my NI contributions b/c I didnt have the ni number but that was a minor thing in my opinion, i only worked like 6 months per year and got nundreds of pounds back so worth doing

let me know if you want any more info