HMRC - going round in circles, please can someone help

[LeylaOfCircassia]

I have spent the last 4-6 weeks calling and being sent from pillar to post.

I will need to pay the Child Benefit overpayment tax. If I file the tax return by 30 Dec the repayment can be taken via my salary next year.

BUT

I have no Government Gateway ID details - told today after many calls it is deleted after 3 years.

BUT

to set up another one I need to go through the ID verfication BUT my only photographic ID is in my maiden name (passport) and my employer/tax etc is in my married name so I cannot pass verification.

Advice was

• call tax line (again) and ask them to change my personal details to match my ID
• but that won't match my employer records which surely will have a knock on effect?

Can anybody explain to me in simple terms what I actually need to do please? I am at the end of my wits being passed around. It seems likely I cannot sort this before Monday.

Bumping in hope.

Do you have a UTR? If you do, I’d file a tax return through some software like tax filer or FreeAgent using your married name, you don’t need to use the government gateway to file a tax return. Try to call HMRC in case it doesn’t work. Is your driving licence also in your maiden name?

I don't have a driver's licence.

I do have a UTR (the only thing I managed to achieve in all these calls) so that actually sounds like the best way.

I'm the same as you. Different id to my working name. I set it up this week

There was a bit where you selected 2/4 things to verify your id. I used one that was about bills and direct debits I had set up like when I last set up a broadband account and the other one was my last payment amount and date to HMRC which was my tax payment in July 24. It worked so I didn't need to use my id.

I did it all online too

I have a couple of options for you: Firstly they have a system where you can verify your identity using 1 form of ID & your face using a smart phone. Your tax record would most likely need to match the name on your passport though, so you may have to call them to change that first. It shouldn't cause any issues with your employment though if you do that & you can always change it back afterwards.

Option 2: pick different ID verification options, one of which will almost certainly be credit reference questions. I.e. don't choose passport, choose P60/self assessment etc & credit reference questions. Even if you've tried before & failed, you can try again & it'll give you different questions each time, so you might be able to answer the next set of questions even if you got it wrong the first time.

Not sure if you can submit a tax return using software if you aren't an agent, but if you can that would definitely be an option too.

Good luck!

Apply for a provisional driving licence in the name you need ?

Thanks for the further suggestions. Will give the bill verification a go.

A provisional licence or new passport will take some time, which is the sticking point.

Advice was

• call tax line (again) and ask them to change my personal details to match my ID
• but that won't match my employer records which surely will have a knock on effect?

This was the correct advice. Don’t worry about your name change matching your employer record. HMRC will match you via your National Insurance number.

My Government Gateway account and Self-Assessment returns (and associates ID) are in my married name. My employer issues payroll in my maiden name into a bank account that matches. On the self assessment form there’s a question that asks if you’re known by any other names - you just add it there.

Follow the steps they advised you to update your personal info to match your ID.

Did you get anywhere with this? I'm in the same frustrating surname loop!

My work surname (married name) is not the same as my name on passport, with HMRC etc. (maiden name). I made the mistake of phoning up HMRC and giving them my married name, they then said they couldn't continue the call because it didn't match their records - even though I explained and could tell them the right name. Phoned them straight back, spoke to the exact same person, gave them the 'right' name and that was fine! Idiots.

They asked me if i wanted to change the name on my records - so I would just do that if it's the easiest thing. It doesn't matter if it doesn't match your work name because as I said mine doesn't match and it doesn't matter, it's all on NI number.