How invasive is bursary application?

[KindOpalBear]

Long story short — my husband owns a small apartment separate from our home, and he only told me today that he hasn’t been paying tax on the rental income.

I’m currently applying for a bursary for our son at a local private school, but he’s now saying I shouldn’t continue. He thinks the school might check financial details with HMRC, realise the property is being rented out, and that it could trigger a large tax bill.

Does anyone know if schools actually contact HMRC as part of the bursary process, or are they just verifying assets like property ownership?

I’m really annoyed and upset with him, as it feels like this could affect our son’s chance at a private education because of his mistake.

Ha! The irony!

I’m paying off an extra £2000 in tax to HMRC because of a fuck up from a retired accountant where I work. I genuinely don’t owe but they threatened me with all sorts and I couldn’t handle the stress.
So yeah… you need to sort out the tax you do owe because they’ll 100% come for you.
I’d also kick your husband in the tits for jeopardising your child’s future for his own financial gain.

The husband sounds like a piece of work. On another thread it sounds like he is financially abusing the OP.

The irony.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/private-school/5480985-one-of-the-parents-has-been-in-jail-for-drugs-and-bribery?reply=150089827

This must be a wind up.

Op would faint if she knew how the super rich fund spaces for the kids who turn up in chauffeur driven limos on the first day of term. Daddy isn't "just" a barrister, diplomat or MP to be able to get that. Mummy didn't buy her velvet wrapped Ferrari doing people's nails either.

But if your insanely rich I presume you don't tell Darcy to avoid the trash either.

Apply first and see what happens.

I dont know how invasive the process is relating to HMRC, but i know someone refused a bursary because they owned one property so id be surprised if youd be entitled to a bursary if you own 2!

He's breaking the law, ffs I bet you moan about NHS and the local schools which would be so much better off if all you tax dodgers paid up. I hope you don't get your bursary, what a bloody cheek you have. I hope HMRC catch up with you soon

Sell the property OP… then pay the fees !

the process is very intrusive and if as a married couple between you you have two properties unlikely you will get very far. If I were you I would be focussing on how large the tax bill could be on the rental income you have received so far.

It will be fine won’t it? Because your husband has amended his self assessment to include his previously undeclared income and contacted HMRC to explain.

they will check what assets you have and that flat could be sold to raise money for fees. Even aside from the hmrc angle you are committing fraud if you continue a bursary application without mentioning it

I worked at a small Prep School and was amazed at those who received bursaries. Several parents I knew had holiday homes abroad still received bursaries.

Very invasive. I have to submit absolutely everything about my finances every year, they see every transaction I make. Definitely wouldn’t be allowed a bursary if we had a second property.

Is this a joke?

You would be expected to sell that property to pay fees before you would be considered for a bursary.

They are not there to allow you to maintain your lifestyle, you are expected to make sacrifices.

You are both now complicit in an ongoing tax fraud. There is no negligence here - it’s deliberate.

You do not in any way deserve an subsidised place that a child from a genuinely poor family could have been given. Maybe that child’s father is a bus driver who pays tax on his meagre income.

You probably would look down on him or her. You would be wrong to do so.

🤮

He’s an idiot if he thinks this won’t catch up on him … it will and he may go to prison for fraud!

If this was a benefit claimant trying to hide some property I guess you would be outraged, you would be taking money from someone more deserving, plus a private education is not something that you should be prioritising in your current situation, how will you sleep at night?

Just had a brain wave, kick you tax dodging DH to the kerb, he can live in the flat, and the maintenance he give you can pay for the school place😊

As someone who has been hit up for back taxes in the past (multiple casual jobs) I can confidently tell you that HMRC knows everything. Once you are on their radar they will gain access and scrutinise all your bank accounts and come after you for more. They also came after me for untaxed interest on my savings accounts.

They will recoup what they think you owe by reducing your personal tax allowance (tax code) until they have every penny they think you owe them.

I was actually surprised at how accurate they were!

If you have a second property, you don’t need a bursary. You do need to speak to a solicitor about this tax stuff though.

I wouldn’t worry about the school telling HMRC. Mumsnet HQ will have already done that. How daft to post about the tax FRAUD you’re committing on a public forum.

Is this a joke? If you are that desperate for your child to have a private education then sell the property and pay your way.

Schools cost an absolute fortune to run each year. Bursaries are not for someone of your means!

They want to know everything... You won't get a bursary if you have a second property.

Well I’d say the process is pretty detailed and unless you intend to defraud the school as well as HMRC you won’t get a bursary if you own a second property anyway as you could sell that to pay the fees. My boys go to a very selective private school but we don’t pay any fees due to their scholarships. However it’s not the same as the bursary process, as their scholarships are awarded on ability rather than financial circumstances. I know from a friend how detailed and almost invasive the bursary process is though.

You do know you’ll have to backpay the tax on the rental income don’t you? Whether the school discover the issue or not, you will still have to pay as fraud often carries a prison sentence.