So, I've been paid and they've deducted tax (even though I don't pay it)

[LaurieFairyCake]

Do I really have to wait til the end of the year to claim it back from the Inland Revenue?

I work one day a week, under the tax threshold.

Take a look at the tax rate on your pay slip. Call tax office and explain your circumstances and they will advise you. Is it a new job? They may have put you on emergency tax rate which means that you always pay tax.

Thanks for responding, they have put me on the emergency tax rate. I have worked there 5 months but they have only paid me for the first time today (they kept sending the money to someone else).

Do I have to stay on the emergency tax rate? They've deducted NI too even though I pay class 2 contributions seperately.

Benny's right, you need to call the tax office. Shouldn't have to wait long for repayment IIRC.

speak to HR
you should have filled in a P46 (assuming you didnt have a P45 from the last job to give them).
you should have a proper coding, and then in your next pay the tax will get corrected.

If you have been paid 5 months pay in mid-June you will only have 2.5mo of personal allowances to offset against this. Which may be impacting on your tax deducted.
Emergency tax as such doesn't really exist, you may have been put on a Week1/Month1 basis which means that you only get the personal allowance for one pay period instead of cumulative to date.

What is the tax code on your payslip?

If you're on tax code BR you will pay the tax rate on 100% of your earnings.