Do I need a tax advisor ?

[2025opportunities]

I was made redundant mid last year. My salary gross was around £75k. No other income.

Apparently the ex-firm did not do a correct calculation on some benefits etc and has notified HMRC and HMRC have sent me a letter with an outstanding payment of nearly £500. This also includes the tax on the interest from savings accounts.

I have received a letter from HMRC that they will take the extra tax from April onwards from my salary / wages.

I don't have a job yet. Been about 7 months of unemployment.
I do get JSA but only applied in Oct.

So effectively do I need to file a self assessment for Year end 5 April 2024 for the above situation ? I know i am on a 2 day deadline. ESP because I have roughly £900 as interest in savings.

Do I need a tax advisor (I don't have money to afford one so I'll try to resolve on my own) for my current situation? I was given some £££ without tax deductions after my last day at ex-firm and my employment lawyer at the time refused to help with tax. So I'm not sure how to proceed.

Sorry if I have not provided more details. Don't want to drip feed but I can provide more details.

Is it your benefit in kind they cocked up? Eg car benefit, medical insurance etc? Or was it your redundancy they messed up?

What period is your interest for?

I think HMRC will be aiming to recoup the tax in your code. I would call them, you will be waiting a while but if you have all your details to hand (salary, interest amount) they should be able to help you.

All my sympathy - good luck. I can't advise on your circumstances but you might consider a financial advisor in the future. Mine are wonderful, and really helped when I retired. They do my online tax returns with me, every year, for free!

Meanwhile, @Bavariamaria suggests: "call them, you will be waiting a while but if you have all your details to hand (salary, interest amount) they should be able to help you."

While you're waiting on the phone, here's a great link to the first opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle: The four operas together last 14 hours, end to end. That might help.

I'm PAYE but had interest above the threshold on savings last year. I was told I didn't have to do a tax return but the bank would inform HMRC and it would be deducted.
On Gov uk there is an algorithm that tells you if you have your diva tax return or not.

The benefits in kind part. Plus there was the interest.

On the letter they don't say I need to do a return. On the letter they say they will deduct from my future wages.

The redundancy payout was not taxed by the firm and anyway it was paid out in July. So not a part of YE 2024.

Yes I've done the algorithm thing. But I'm so paranoid. 🫣

Yes I felt the same so I called them directly and they confirmed it