The layout of a certificate

Your certificate will feature the following information:

• Your address
• Your account details
• The tax year - this runs from 6th April to 5th April so the interest featured in the certificate will relate to that paid into your account during this period.
• Gross interest - this is the amount of interest that you earned before tax. If you have registered to not pay tax on this account, this is the only figure that you will see on your certificate.
• Tax deducted - this is the amount of tax that has been deducted from the interest paid in the tax year featured.
• Actual amount received is the amount of interest paid into your account once tax has been deducted.

Why do I need a certificate of interest?

Some customers may want a certificate of interest if they complete a tax return. However you can get the amount of interest that you were paid from your regular account statements. If you have been paid net interest, you can calculate the gross amount by dividing by 4 and multiplying by 5, and the tax paid will be the difference between the two.

Special note to Instant Access Savings Account customers who get interest paid into their account annually

Interest is paid into your account on the last business day of April each year. As the tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April, this means that the certificate you receive will show the interest paid into your account the previous year.

For example the certificate sent to you in April 2011 would show you the interest that was paid into your account in April 2010.

The interest paid on the last business day of April 2011 would feature in your regular account statement sent in June 2011 and on the certificate that will be sent in April 2012.

Your questions about savings certificates answered:

What do I do if I have not received a certificate and I need one?

Call our helpline on 0845 678 5678.

I have lost my certificate. How can I get another?

You can get a duplicate certificate by calling our Helpline on 0845 678 5678 where one of our advisers will be happy to organise this for you.

I do not understand the figure - it is different to what I expected

The figure on your certificate will relate to the interest paid into that account during the tax year featured. The tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April.

Instant Access Savings Account Customers

If you have interest paid monthly, you will receive this on the last business day of each month. The interest on your certificate is the total of these monthly payments.

If you have interest paid annually, interest is paid into your account on the last business day of April each year. This means that the certificate you receive in April 2012 will show interest paid into your account in April 2011.

Internet Saver Customers

Interest is paid into your account on the last business day in March. This means the certificate you receive in April 2012 will show interest paid into your account in March 2012.

If you still feel that the figure is different, please call our Helpline on
0845 678 5678 where one of our advisers will be happy to help you.

I wanted gross interest and you have deducted tax from it

To have gross interest paid into your account, you need to complete an R85 form. This is a declaration that you are not liable to pay tax. You need to complete a separate form for each account and each person named on the account has to complete an R85 if they are not liable to pay tax.

If you have not filled out a form and would like to request one, please call our Helpline on 0845 678 5678 where one of our advisers will be happy to help you. Any interest paid to your account from the date that we receive your R85 will be paid gross.

If you are paid monthly interest and you have filled in an R85 during the tax year, any interest paid into your account before we received your R85 will have tax deducted.

If you have paid tax during this tax year and should not have, you should contact your own Tax Office.

I have been paid gross interest but I should have paid tax

You should contact your own Tax Office for advice. Also, you should write to us at the address on your certificate, quoting your account details and advising us that you wish your coding to be amended.

I am not sure whether I can claim tax back

If you are unsure about whether you can claim tax back, please ask at any Tax Office for leaflet IR111, "Bank and building society interest: are you paying tax when you don't need to?"

What do I need to do with my certificate of interest?

If you need to complete a tax return, you can get the necessary details from your certificate. If you do not complete a tax return, you do not need to do anything with your certificate of interest.

Will I get one automatically?

Certificates of interest will be issued in April 2012 to anyone who received one last year. If you did not receive a certificate last year you can request one by calling our helpline on 0845 678 5678.

What should I do if I disagree with the figures?

Please check the above information to see if your questions can be answered.

Please also check the figures on the certificate against the figures that are shown in your statements. These are the amounts that were paid into your account during the tax year featured.

If you still disagree with the figures, please call our Helpline on 0845 678 5678 and our advisers will be happy to help you.