Non-nationals being made redundant - can we claim back tax?

Hi!

I've been in the UK and working full time and paying taxes for about 5 years. I am being made redundant from my current job and I am not 2 years employed there so will not be eligible for a redundancy payment.

They are, however, offering us a percentage of our annual wages as a bonus if we stay on til the end of our notice period (which I will be). I intend to leave the UK soon after and was wondering whether this bonus could be viewed differently than other pay and whether I can claim it then to get as much of my tax back as possible when I leave.

Appreciate any help on this.
Many thanks.

The bonus will still be classed as taxable income though depending on when you leave the UK you might be able to claim some of it back. Use the following calculator:

http://www.taxfix.co.uk/income-tax-calculator.html

And input your total income that you think you will earn in 2009 and the total tax you will pay, this will calculate if you are due a refund and how much.

I have just been made redundant.I have worked all my life but was only with the last company for under 2 years so didn't qualify for a redundancy package.
I went to the job Centre where I was treated very strangely.They gave me no information on anything that I would be in titled to the only thing they did tell me was that I would get no help with my mortgage for six months
I was just passed from one person to the next filling in forms and giving all my information but no help.I don't want to be jobless and did as about Information on becoming self employed .Their answer was you cant claim benefits then.The experience was so weird the staff just look through me as if I was a ghost.I have to return in two weeks again to be treated by the most unhelpful stuck up people I have ever met and I just cant do it.
I am very frustrated as I have a young family and loans pensions life insurance endowments etc .
I have booked an appointment with citizens advice to find out about going self employed but have no saving to fall back on.Does anyone know if you can get any benefits if you are self employed and how do you prove your income etc when starting out

You can definitely claim tax back that you have overpaid in the last five years.

The main thing here is, that you are eligible, if you haven't worked the full tax year.

Now, the bonus that you will receive will not be viewed differently because this falls under your income and should be included by your employer when your P45 form is handed out at the end of your employment...

:/


Good Luck!