MARAS check worries

kg1984

Hi gang,

I'm just about to submit my form to MARAS and am having quite a few nervous jitters.

I'm a full time PhD student and my salary is paid from a research grant. There are a few quirks with this arrangement. Namely, 1) I get paid every 3 months and 2) I am not liable for income tax or NI.

The form asks for my current gross salary, but I'm not sure what to put here as my gross salary is the same as my net salary, and I don't want MARAS to think that I receive less than what I do, as that would mean I probably couldn't afford the rent.

So my question is, should I put the actual amount I receive, and attach a note saying that I don't pay income tax on this, or should I work out a gross amount based on what my salary would be IF I paid income tax and NI contributions on it? A gross-equivalent figure, if you will.

Do any research students have any experience of going through MARAS? Were you successful or unsuccessful? I do have a guarantor (my father), plus I have a good credit record on Experian (no bad debt, CCJs, defaults, etc. and pay a credit card back in full every month) but if they're strict, I fear the worst.

Thanks!

princeofpounds

I suspect you will be fine to be honest. An explanatory note telling them, perhaps in a slightly more concise manner, what you told us here should cover it, especially as you have a guarantor.

I would suggest saying your gross salary is x, but tax free, which is equivalent to a taxable gross salary of y.

MARAS looks like it's a form filled in for some dumb robot, but there are people on the other end (unfortunately sometimes dumb too!). But they do not make final decisions.

Also make it clear to LL/Agent so that if it comes back with a question mark on the income front it is not a surprise.