Can I reclaim tax?

[TaxQ]

I am sitting going through paperwork of my recently deceased mother. She was in receipt of a small widows pension and I have just realise that she was taxed on this income for past 6 years! She should not have been liable for tax as that payment along with her state pension was the only income she had and did not put her over the personal allowance. Would I be able to claim that tax back at all?

I once got my own tax back for a few years. Not sure what happens in your situation. HMRC can be helpful so it’s worth giving them a ring. Make sure you ask ‘ how’ rather than ‘if’.

If the two added together was less than the personal allowance then she shouldn't have been paying tax. Not sure what the rules are though for claiming tax back though in these circumstances. Phone the tax office and see what they say. Are you sure these two pensions were her only income.

I googled this and the tax office even have a special bereavement helpline for overpayment or underpayment of tax. Hope it gets sorted out soon.

Thanks all. I've had a bit of a Google too, also some money advice sites and it looks like I may be able to reclaim it. I'll ring tax office in the morning, they've always been very helpful in the past with my own so fingers crossed!

They can go back as far as April 2013 I think