My best friend has taken her life two weeks ago and left some debt to HMRC

[draxdomax]

I am going to consult a solicitor but it will take me some time to arrange a meeting.
Tried to read a little bit but it's all very confusing and "loose" internet blogs don't really inspire me a lot of confidence anyway.

My dear friend has been out of work for a year, couch surfing as a way to stay out of the street, food banks, etc...
She was suffering with depression and finally took her life two weeks ago.
Needless to say, she did not leave any "estate". A few low quality clothes, that's all.

Her mother will come from abroad to collect her remains. Her mother works minimum wage in her 70's. So, she's clearly barely managing herself.
We all pitched in to pay for cremation and plane tickets.

In a letter that my friend has left, she indicated that she might have about 4,000 owed to HMRC.

Reading online, I see that the executor/administrator has to pay any outstanding debts but we aren't sure who that is.
Maybe her mother will come here and register as such - but would she really be made to pay 4,000 pounds that her daughter owed?

They didn't even see each other in person for 10 years, let alone any economic relationship... How could she be liable for this?
She's not even related to the UK at all. If she never came, I doubt HMRC would even know about her (pretty sure 4,000 isn't a matter for the InterPol).

I read that "the court will appoint an executor"... And then by the "executor pays the debt to HMRC" rule, it means that the court can point to someone and force them to pay a debt of a person who is kind of a stranger?

Could someone please shed some light?
Sorry for the confused post, I am running so many things at once here, I am knackered.

So sorry to hear this. The 4k comes from her estate, as she has none the debt will be written off

The executor must pay the debts out of the deceased estate. If there’s no estate, then it can’t be paid.

And the executor is not responsible for any debts which are left.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.
If they didn't have any assets hmrc will write the debt off. No one, not even their next of kin will be liable for the debt.

I am so so sorry for your loss.

❤

As there is no estate, the debt cannot be paid. So HMRC can’t do anything about. It comes from the deceaseds estate, not from her family, friends or executor.

Sorry for your loss. That’s so hard.

HMRC will accept she was destitute and intestate. Send them details if you want to or leave it to them to figure out.

It means she has to pay out of anything your friend left behind.

So if she had 6k in an account her mother would have to use 4k of it to repay the debt.

As there is nothing left, the debt won't be settled.

Your friends mother is not personally responsibile for the debt. Just to pay it from your friends estate if possible.

As it isn't the debt is void.

Im sorry about your friend.if theres no money then theres no way to repay. It doesn't have to be paid by the parent! The executor is to pay the debts out of the estate of the deceased. The executor doesn't pay the debts out of their own money.Is there even a will? If no will (means no named executor) and no money then just leave it. HMRC will figure it out. I don't think you need to start paying for legal advice.

I’m an accountant. I agree with everyone else. If there was no money in her estate the debt will be written off.

Please don’t waste your money on a solicitor or an accountant.

Whoever registered the death will get a letter from HMRC asking who’s dealing with the estate. At that point, the recipient of that letter can write to HMRC stating that she left no money and no assets. HMRC have ways of checking this, and in this case if they check they’ll see that it’s totally true. No one will be made liable. They’ll cancel it.

You have my condolences.

Ah, thanks!

I think because, most of the time, people get entangled when there's joint ownership of a substantial property, then the advice online is for people dealing with substantial estates and there's stuff to sell and money to pay off.

How generous of those who pitched in to pay for cremation etc. That's a genuinely kind action.

I'm so sorry about your friend. Her poor mum.

Take care OP

It’s the executors legal responsibility to pay debts from the estate left behind. If there is no money then the debts aren’t paid. They don’t get passed onto some else.

she was a real ray of sunshine to the community.
She ran the "Bus of Hope" charity and helped anyone who asked, with whatever.

She had many friends and we even had someone secretly letting me know that they'll top up the account to cover for what is needed, if not enough was collected - but we managed.

If only she asked for help during her moment of extreme sadness, she would have found it.

A real loss to many people!

I'm so sorry OP. She sounds like a wonderful person and it's so sad she didn't know how important she was to so many people. Its such a kindness you have all done for her. I'm glad that at least the advice you've received is hopefully a weight off your mind 💐

i sent a standard letter from, I think, Martin Lewis money saver website, telling everyone that the estate was insolvent. I had no enquiries. Dad died owing £50k.

So sorry about the loss of your friend OP.

Sorry for your loss. In addition to the above, from experience, banks etc will likely try and get someone to take on administration of the estate where someone has died intestate. Took months for them to get the message when my sibling died and eventually I did end up getting a solicitor to tell them to stop.