HMRC and Semantics.

Pocket_the_lot · 19 November 2011 at 4:52PM

HMRC and Semantics.

HMRC had notified me that I need to make up National Insurance contributions for the tax year 09/10 and the amount to be paid.

I duly went off to the Post Office to make the payment.

The next thing is that a letter in response arrived from HMRC but instead of acknowledging receipt of the payment and the amount paid they write:

''We wrote to you previously to tell you that it appeared that you hadn't paid or been credited with enough National insurance contributions for the tax year 09/10 to count for your State Pension.

I am pleased to tell you that your record has been up-dated and now shows that there is no shortfall for the year 09/10. This means that you have enough contributions for that year to count towards your basic State Pension.''

Being sensitised since my dealings with Masterquote I immediately noticed how this type of correspondence may lead to confusion in the future and could even facilitate fraud.

Now, I know that I have paid and therefore it would be reasonable for me to take it that the letter represents an acknowledgement of this payment, but looking at how the reply is written, it could be interpreted in another light because of semantics.

The advisory letter from HMRC was a statement of fact but now in their reply they state that it appeared, (my emphasis given), that you hadn’t paid enough or been credited with …......... And also although the reply goes on to say that my record has been updated, we know that within the National insurance system it is quite possible for it to be updated because of reasons other than by payment.

I would have preferred a statement specifying the amount paid because I know from the past that up-to-date contributions can consist of both payments and credits.

Meeper · 19 November 2011 at 6:51PM

Perhaps you should tell them about it.

Do you need help with anything, or is this just a public service announcement that HMRC are shabby with admin. Didn't think that was in dispute.

McKneff · 19 November 2011 at 7:28PM

You really didnt need to pay it anyway, you only need 30 years NI credits to enable you to claim a state pension.

Over a normal working life you pay far in excess of 30 years so there would have been no shortage on a state pension claim.

If you start work at 20 and work till your 65 that 45 years to start with before the govenment extend any retirement age.

JoeCrystal · 19 November 2011 at 9:13PM

McKneff wrote: »

You really didnt need to pay it anyway, you only need 30 years NI credits to enable you to claim a state pension.

Over a normal working life you pay far in excess of 30 years so there would have been no shortage on a state pension claim.

If you start work at 20 and work till your 65 that 45 years to start with before the govenment extend any retirement age.

But still, you do have to wonder. If they are willing to lower the amount of years required for the state pension, then they will also be willing to raise the amount as well!

Cheers

Joe

Pocket_the_lot · 20 November 2011 at 3:26PM

McKneff wrote: »

You really didnt need to pay it anyway, you only need 30 years NI credits to enable you to claim a state pension.

Over a normal working life you pay far in excess of 30 years so there would have been no shortage on a state pension claim.

If you start work at 20 and work till your 65 that 45 years to start with before the govenment extend any retirement age.

Yes. It was a public announcement. I am still catching up to make the 30 years which is fine but after observing various governments nibble away at pensions by all of the various schemes over the years it just struck me of the potential here.

jamesd · 20 November 2011 at 9:28PM

I'm surprised that you haven't received an explicit confirmation of your additional payment. I did when buying back years. Maybe you will later.

Pocket_the_lot · 4 February 2012 at 5:36PM

jamesd wrote: »

I'm surprised that you haven't received an explicit confirmation of your additional payment. I did when buying back years. Maybe you will later.

I am sure that some years ago I received two confirmation letters, one after the other. The first was in the original format of ''explicit confirmation'' and the other was the vaig explanation that we receive nowadays. perhaps one day I will find them because I keep all such correspondence.