PAYE13110 - coding: coding: general principles: removal of COP cases from SA - automatic coding


When a CY-1 tax return is captured the SA computer system will identify COP / SA cases suitable for automatic removal from SA. It will do this by comparing the CY-1 return with a set of specified criteria. Further information can be found in the Self Assessment Manual in section 'Maintain Taxpayer Record' in the 'Records' business area.

COP will look at the coding items from the taxpayer’s SA record and for CY+1 where an entry is present for the same source, no change will be made. If there is no entry in CY+1, COP will look at the CY coding record. Where an entry is present no change will be made. The computer system assumes that a clerical review has taken place, for example because the source ceased in CY, no entry appears in CY+1.

Where there is no entry present in CY+1 or CY, the amount from the taxpayer’s SA record will be included in the coding record for CY+1. Where there is no entry present for EXP or PSUB in CY+1 or CY then EMO will be produced for a clerical review. Where relief for a payment is given for extending the basis rate band, for example PPR, the SA computer system will check that higher rate liability occurs on an amount equal or more than the payment made. If not, the SA computer system will provide the amount by which the basic rate is extended, rather than the total payment.

As a result of the automatic removal from SA there may be an increase of enquiries after the Annual Coding run has taken place. This may be because of items included in the CY+1 code for the first time for example

  • Reliefs due to give higher rate relief
  • Adjustments to recover the additional tax on savings income

The table below gives further information on specific income and payments from the SA tax return

Untaxed Interest (Boxes 10.1 and 10.8)INT included in CY+1 code. For a basic rate taxpayer the amount will be 20/22 of the total untaxed interest
Taxed Interest and Dividends (Boxes 10.4, 10.7, 10.11, 10.14, 10.17, 10.20, 10.23 & 10.26)Gross amount from all boxes added together, but where the taxpayer is not liable or is liable at the starting rate or basic rate, no amount will be sent to COP.

HRA included in the CY+1 code for taxpayer liable at higher rate
Other Taxable Income (Box 13.3)If no tax has been deducted, there is no entry in box 13.2, the SA computer system will add the amount in box 13.3 to any amount in box 1.10 of the employment page. COP will look for coding entries described as COMM, DEI, OE or PTE. Only if none of these are present will DEI be included in CY+1
Retirement Annuity Relief (Box 14.1)RAR included in CY+1.

Many taxpayers confuse RAR and PPR payments so COP will first look for RAR in CY+1 and CY and if not present will look for PPR in CY+1 and CY. Only where neither is present in the code will RAR be coded in CY+1
Personal Pension Relief (Boxes 14.6 & 14.11)
PPR included in CY+1 for higher rate taxpayer at the source against which the code is operated
Other Contributions (Box 14.10)Payments shown here may not be regular or continuing so details will not be passed to COP
Gifts to Charity (Box 15A)CHR included in CY+1 for higher rate taxpayer at the source against which the code is operated.

Amount will be box 15A.1 less ‘one-off’ gift in 15A.2
Tips (Employment page box 1.9)TIPS included in CY+1 from maximum of two employment pages
Other Payments (Employment page box 1.10)
DEI included in CY+1 from maximum of two employment pages. Total of box 1.10 plus amount in box 13.3 (see Other Taxable income (Box 13.3) above)
Professional Fees and Subscriptions (Employment page box 1.34)PSUB - where no entry in CY+1 or CY clerical review required
Other Expenses and Capital Allowances (Employment page box 1.35)EXP - where no entry in CY+1 or CY clerical review required


Early Morning Output (EMO) will be produced where COP is unable to deal with the information provided by SA because the

  • COP record cannot be found
  • UTR does not match
  • Record found is not a GCD record
  • Code is BR, 0T, D0, FT or NT

In these circumstances the COP record needs to be updated clerically.

Automatic coding will only apply in the circumstances described above. Where the taxpayer objects to a non-PAYE source of income (for example INT or HRA) included in the PAYE code, refer them to the letter SA251 (letter sent to taxpayer advising removal from SA). Explain that coding will recover the extra tax due if we do not send an SA tax return. If the income is removed from the code then we will need to send SA tax returns each year.

If the taxpayer prefers to complete SA tax returns, you will need to reactivate the SA record, set the ‘Automatic Closure Inhibited’ signal on SA and review the coding and signals on COP.