STBXH has used my name for HM Revenue and Customs

[itisneverending]

Trying to divorce but H is being very awkward. We’re still living in the same house. Have two children 21 and 14.

Just sorting through some paperwork and I have opened a letter saying I owe 14K to HM Revenue and Customs. H has his own business and I work for public sector. I have never had any VAT account - or whatever it is.

Any advice on what to do? TIA

Contact HMRC and tell them.

This is the only advice anyone can give you.

HMRC won’t be impressed with him.

Phone HMRC and ask them why they think you owe them 14k. Then take it from there depending on their answer

Also keep the paperwork and discuss it with your divorce solicitor. They’ll give you appropriate advice on what to do about this stuff.

Thank you for the advice. HMRC are not open until the new year. Does anyone know what the consequences will be for STBXH? For the children’s benefit, I don’t want him in prison.

If he’s used your name he may have been “paying” you (keeping money for himself) - you need to speak to HMRC asap and don’t let him know you’ve found this paperwork yet so he doesn’t have chance to hide anything else.

Are you sure it's him? Did it have his business name on?

Could you contact https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Have you looked up his business online? You should be able to see financial records there.

The consequences of HIS actions are not within your control here. He’s made his bed so he’ll need to lie in it.

Speak to your solicitor before you do anything.

Don't worry about him ending up in prison, you need to make sure you don't, contact a lawyer then HMRC 🤷‍♀️

You will be hanging on the phone for hours to try & speak to them, especially in January. Is there a "contact us" option or an email address? At busy times they really try to direct you to their website.

Is the amount owing for tax or vat?

If it's VAT it will have the VAT registration number on the paperwork. Check it and see if it's registered to your husbands business:

https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number

@littleducks I know it’s him. I found an opened letter (stuffed back in the envelope) addressed to me from an organisation who chase owed money for HMRC and phoned the number on the letter. They weren’t a debt collection agency. Going through the security questions they asked me if my mobile ended in xxxx. My husband’s number.

The woman on the phone said I needed to contact HMRC directly.

That really sucks and I think depending on details might be financial abuse.

Can you access your credit report (like Experian free trial) to ensure this is only thing you don't know about

you need to think about protecting yourself here. What happens to him is far less important than that.

It’s your financial stability and your life he’s messing with here. The fact your are worrying about the consequences from him suggests that he may not only be financially abusive and has done a number on you.

if he end up in prison, it will be entirely his own fault. It’s fine to be angry with him

Taxaid were able to help a relative when their abusive spouse had run up tax debts in their name.

You really need to report this. Are you in the civil service? If you are then owing money like that to HMRC could be a disciplinary matter and cost you your job.

You cannot think about what will happen to him. You have to protect yourself here. Try and sit on it, and don’t say anything to him, until the new year when you will have to sit on the phone for however long it takes to speak to someone at HMRC.

Something similar happened to a family member whose first inkling was when an HMRC team came banging on her front door.

They very rapidly understood that this was nothing to do with her. It turned out that the then DH knew this was coming and didn't tell her.

I second PP's recommendation of Taxaid for guidance, if you're eligible.

https://taxaid.org.uk/

Check Companies House for records for his business.

Check your national insurance record for payments and see if that matches your payslip.

If he has committed fraud then you cannot protect him from the consequences. Unless you become complicit in the fraud.

You need to be clear about the facts.

Is his business a sole trader or limited company?

What tax is owing? Is it VAT, PAYE, Corporation tax or income tax?

Presumably it's VAT because you mention it in the opening post - does the letter say it's for VAT?

Have you ever been a partner or director/shareholder in his business?

Talk to your solicitor obviously but assuming they advise you to contact HMRC …..if you contact HMRC by letter you’ll be waiting ages, and if you ring them they’ll probably tell you to put your case in writing.

I’d email Mr Harra who is the Chief Exec. His assistants will forward the email to the team who will prioritise it. I did that once (Self Assessment problem ) and was satisfied with the outcome, a very competent guy sorted things out.

[email protected]k.

I don’t think the OP needs to be clear if any facts beyond that she is employed and pays her taxes via PAYE. Whatever this tax bill is, it is not her tax liability. And HMRC can figure out who does owe them tax (even if she knows it’s her STBXH, they’ll investigate and can find out themselves).

Whatever action HMRC want to take over his fraudulent tax activity is not the OP’s concern. All that matters for her is establishing that this is not her tax liability.