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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Any tips on how to get the cms to properly investigate x spouse?

29 replies

coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 22:42

Just that. Im desperate for help please.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 08/11/2021 22:44

Child maintenance to investigate your ex's spouse for what?

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 22:47

His business books. How would i know that theyve thoroughly investigated his accounts? The information being supplied can't add up.

OP posts:
LemonTT · 08/11/2021 22:58

HMRC would be better placed to check his books if there were any suspicions. But there is an awful lot legally that an accountant can do to reduce tax. That invariably means showing a low income which is what CMS will be using.

In what way do you think he is fiddling his books illegally?

BigYellowHat · 08/11/2021 22:58

Good luck with that. You can ask and ask. They’ll promise to do something but won’t and it’s just so frustrating. As you can tell I’ve been there, done that and got the T-shirt (no maintenance though) 🤷‍♀️

GabriellaMontez · 08/11/2021 23:02

What do you think he's doing?

Have you applied for a mandatory reconsideration?

If he's hiding cash I don't think you have a chance.

KeyboardWorriers · 08/11/2021 23:09

Fuck knows. My ex is clearly mainly paid in brown paper envelopes (it's rife in his industry). HMRC/CMS didn't want to know.

Have they included dividend income though? They didn't even do that with my ex. They will at least do that (goodness knows why it isn't automatically included).

Sending you solidarity.

The only plus side for me is it made me far more career driven and now I out earn him (based on what he earnt before he shifted to cash in hand) (I was lucky to have an employer that supported me working flexibly)

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 23:43

@LemonTT

HMRC would be better placed to check his books if there were any suspicions. But there is an awful lot legally that an accountant can do to reduce tax. That invariably means showing a low income which is what CMS will be using.

In what way do you think he is fiddling his books illegally?

Because he lies about everything. I thought the cms looked at your lifestyle and not just your wage? He spending more on fags than child maintenance.
OP posts:
Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 23:44

@GabriellaMontez

What do you think he's doing?

Have you applied for a mandatory reconsideration?

If he's hiding cash I don't think you have a chance.

I've done that. A lot. Hes definitely hiding cash.
OP posts:
Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 23:45

@KeyboardWorriers

Fuck knows. My ex is clearly mainly paid in brown paper envelopes (it's rife in his industry). HMRC/CMS didn't want to know.

Have they included dividend income though? They didn't even do that with my ex. They will at least do that (goodness knows why it isn't automatically included).

Sending you solidarity.

The only plus side for me is it made me far more career driven and now I out earn him (based on what he earnt before he shifted to cash in hand) (I was lucky to have an employer that supported me working flexibly)

I appreciate your solidarity. Thank you. Yes im sensing a real fire in my belly for change. Dont know how yet but fk him.
OP posts:
Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 08/11/2021 23:46

How can you have a house worth nearly £250000 and be paying almost zero in maintenance?

OP posts:
KeyboardWorriers · 08/11/2021 23:55

@coodawoodashooda CMS told me they weren't interested in his lifestyle because it could be funded in so many ways other than earnings... Hmm

So it was fine for him to tell CMS he couldn't afford to pay me for several months whilst he took the kids to Disney etc etc...

Rummikub · 09/11/2021 00:01

@KeyboardWorriers

That’s very frustrating

My dd has noticed the difference in lifestyles. Yet he won’t engage on any discussion.

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 09/11/2021 01:02

[quote KeyboardWorriers]@coodawoodashooda CMS told me they weren't interested in his lifestyle because it could be funded in so many ways other than earnings... Hmm

So it was fine for him to tell CMS he couldn't afford to pay me for several months whilst he took the kids to Disney etc etc...[/quote]
The cms really do seem to be failing more than they should.

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 09/11/2021 01:25

@coodawoodashooda

How can you have a house worth nearly £250000 and be paying almost zero in maintenance?
Quite easily I would have thought. It's about income, not assets.

I'm not unsympathetic as my daughter receives cm and I know all the stories about how men hide their income. The CMS just doesn't have the resources to investigate someone's lifestyle and hidden income. They only really work for the most straightforward of cases ie salaried people who work for companies and pay tax via PAYE.

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 09/11/2021 01:47

Yes. You make a fair point but in this day and age it is outrageous.

OP posts:
Heatherjayne1972 · 09/11/2021 06:23

If you find out let me know …
My ex does a lot of cash in hand work
Pays minimal tax /child support etc

A friends ex buys million pound houses every couple of years yet doesn’t have an income !

And the Hmrc cms don’t want to know
So annoying

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 09/11/2021 06:34

@Heatherjayne1972

If you find out let me know … My ex does a lot of cash in hand work Pays minimal tax /child support etc

A friends ex buys million pound houses every couple of years yet doesn’t have an income !

And the Hmrc cms don’t want to know
So annoying

Annoying. It's immoral.
OP posts:
SethWho · 09/11/2021 06:40

They have the power to suspend driving licences. Imagine if they enforced this but they won't because that would be empowering the parent who stayed to raise the child.

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 09/11/2021 06:43

@SethWho

They have the power to suspend driving licences. Imagine if they enforced this but they won't because that would be empowering the parent who stayed to raise the child.
I don't understand what you mean? Why wouldn't they want to empwer the responsible parent?
OP posts:
SethWho · 09/11/2021 07:20

Look at the system. It's designed to grind down resident parents.

Original poster
coodawoodashooda · 09/11/2021 07:23

@SethWho

Look at the system. It's designed to grind down resident parents.
Well it works a fkn treat then. I haven't slept a wink for working out what we can do without so i can manage.
OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 09/11/2021 07:40

If its all in cash, I'm so sorry but I don't think they will help. Its awful.

Is he self employed?have you looked at his accounts? Have you appealed the MR and involved the financial investigation unit?

Rummikub · 09/11/2021 07:52

Would they use the companies house info on turnover?
I can see what amount ex says his company made but then I imagine he can say part of that is back into the business.
I wonder if it’s possible to find out how much Covid money the business got?

GabriellaMontez · 09/11/2021 11:14

Yes. If there is a paper trail, they can access it in detail inc bank accounts etc. Covid grants will be included in revenue. (Not loans)

But if the OPs ex is dealing in cash, there is nothing to see.

DeepaBeesKit · 09/11/2021 11:36

They wont look at lifestyle because it could be funded by a new partner, a parent, or an old savings account etc.

The value of the house he lives in won't matter either as they won't require him to sell it and give some to you - also it could have a huge mortgage.

If you think he's hiding actual earned income, thats the part to target. Report to HMRC for tax fraud