I was on a basic rate tax code for 18 months. Does this mean I might have paid too much tax?

Code BR means you are taxed on all your earnings at the basic rate which is 22% (NOT 10% as some might think as tht is the 'Low' rate) You are entitled to receive £5225 of your total income tax free so if this is your only income then you will have paid too much and will get a refund. If it is a second job then you will have 2 employers and 2 codes and get this allowance from 1 of the employers so you won't have paid too much tax and you may have paid too little if the combined earnings tip you into the higher tax rate of 40%. You will then either get a bill or next year a reduction in your tax free allowance

As far as I know BR (basic rate) tax code means that your earnings are taxed at a flat 22% with no allowances. Do you have income from anywhere else which would be taking care of your tax allowances? If not, you need to contact your local tax office and complete a P46 form in order to get a proper tax code. If you are in fact on emergency tax code, you still need to sort out a proper code by visiting or ringing the tax office. If you have overpaid in tax, yes you will get a rebate, provided your employer has passed on the tax and done everything by the book. Try checking on the website www.hmrc.gov.uk for info on codes.

You need to fill in a form called P46 from your employer to declare that you only have one job. You have been overtaxed for the past 18 months, i guess since the start of your job. You can also make a phone call to the tax office in Banrsley to clarify this issue; 08453667802, have your NI number ready. Once the declaration has been made, you will get your rebate or refund back. BR is an emergency tax code and it is very costly! Good luck and make sure you get those money back.

No basic rate IS NOT the lowest tax rate. Basic rate is actually around 30% of your earnings and they normally give you BR when you have a 2nd job or income. You're employer should really have sorted out your pay info when you got the job cus the tax people would have been able to work out which tax code you fall into and tax you accordingly. So far I have worked out that if in a tax code you'll get taxed between 20-25% inc nat ins. Hope that helps

if you are owed any tax you will get a letter from the taxman at the end of the financial year , which is april but basic rate is the lowest rate of tax , if you didn't have a proper tax code are you sure you weren't paying emergency rate ?? which is a lot higher all the best Ian