On Your Side: When the taxman may look kindly on remittances to UK

Our consumer advocate takes readers' questions on the UK's tax terms for expats, a long-lost flydubai baggage story, and whether an employer can extend a worker's probationary period.

A reader has been trying to find a resolution to a piece of luggage lost during a flydubai journey. Randi Sokoloff / The National
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I am resident in the UAE and have remained outside of the United Kingdom without transcending the 90 days permitted in the UK by the tax authorities during the 2011-2012 tax year. I was sent a tax return, which I completed, and I have also sent £32,000 (Dh183,000)back to my UK bank account which I declared in the return. HRMC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) has now sent me a tax demand for £4,900, but I would like to know if I should appeal this as I was under the impression that overseas income is tax-free. My query is whether the £32,000 I sent home is liable for tax or should it be exempt? KD, Dubai

If you have spent less than 90 days in the UK between April 6, 2011, and April 5, 2012, under current British legislation you should be considered "non-resident" for tax purposes and your overseas income will not be subject to UK income tax. You should have notified HMRC of your intention to become a non-resident by completing and returning the P85 tax form. If you are registered as UK non-resident for tax purposes, your overseas income may be remitted to the UK without liability, so there should be no tax to pay on these remittances. You should contact HMRC to explain the situation and ask for the matter to be reviewed.

I am writing to seek your assistance about the lack of response and resolution I am getting from flydubai and Dnata Baggage Services in respect of my lost baggage. I travelled to Najaf, Iraq, from Dubai on March 29 with flydubai, but although I arrived safely one of my bags did not. I immediately filed a report with the ground baggage-handling staff, who informed me they could not process the claim in Najaf and that I would have to do it in Dubai if my bag did not turn up, which it did not. Upon returning to Dubai, we again contacted flydubai at the airport. I was informed that the bag had not been located and that I should send an email to a specific address, attaching the claim form and the claim would be processed. I did this, but we heard nothing back. I followed up with phone calls to the flydubai helpline, but got no response. As Dnata handles the flydubai baggage I also called on Dnata Baggage Services at the airport and was given a telephone number to contact. When I called I was told that the claim would be processed. I have since been calling that number and there is no response. Further I have tried calling and emailing Dnata's ground-handling services - again no response. I am extremely frustrated as it has been nearly two months of trying to trace our lost bag or get some compensation from flydubai but to no avail. I would therefore very much appreciate your assistance in trying to get this matter resolved. TJ Dubai

It took me quite some time to find someone who would look at this case as I received no response from flydubai and the airline has changed its public-relations company. Once I finally tracked down an account director at the new agency, it acted quite quickly and flydubai has now offered compensation to Mrs J for an amount that she is very happy to accept. A spokesman for the airline commented: "Thank you for getting in touch with flydubai and highlighting the case of Mrs J. Having looked into the claim, we have been unable to trace her lost bag. We have been in touch with Mrs J directly, who has accepted compensation. We understand how inconvenient this has been and thank Mrs J for her patience whilst we resolved her case."

I have been with my current employer for a little more than five months and my employment contract states that I have a six-month probationary period. As this will be up in a couple of weeks I asked my boss to confirm that my job will be made permanent, but he said that because of the current economic climate and various other issues, the company would like to extend the probationary period. I am not happy about this uncertainty so can you tell me if this is allowed? ST, Abu Dhabi

Article 37 of the UAE Labour Law states that an "employee may be appointed for a probationary period not to exceed six months". If an individual is still in service after six months, he or she is deemed to be a permanent employee, no matter what the employer claims and the probationary period forms part of their total service. Employers are not allowed to extend an individual's probation. No more than one probationary period is permitted with any one employer.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com or onyourside@thenational.ae.