UTR and self employment

charlotte_rose

I registered a few weeks ago as self employed on HMRC's website.

How long does it take to get my UTR or is there a way I can find it out online?

chrismac1

It varies from 4 weeks to up to 12 weeks. No you cannot find it out online.

Occasionally they fail to issue these numbers at all. This is the sort of thing that really annoys people who deal with HMRC all the time.

How hard can it be to generate a unique 10 digit number and post it out?

charlotte_rose

chrismac1 wrote: »

It varies from 4 weeks to up to 12 weeks. No you cannot find it out online.

Occasionally they fail to issue these numbers at all. This is the sort of thing that really annoys people who deal with HMRC all the time.

How hard can it be to generate a unique 10 digit number and post it out?

really hard it seems for these cluts!

I went back to their website to find out how to get it and the english is so poorly written and circular its a disgrace.

very frustrating as its been 8 weeks and school term starts shortly

PlutoinCapricorn

It's not even one of the busy times around April 5th and January 31st for example.

I got mine in around 3 weeks, along with the Direct Debit and exemption claim forms and a black book, but that was years ago.

You could try phoning them ... you did actually submit your registration form, as opposed to just completing it?

Pennywise

I'm still waiting for a UTR number that I applied for in March.

Amazingly, they issued a "notice to complete a SA return" but all it had on it was the NIC number - you can't submit a SA return without knowing the UTR, so in limbo.

Written a few times asking for it - no reply.

Phoned a couple of times - standard reply/excuse that they can't give it over the phone and will ask the relevant dept to write with it - needless to say nothing received.

I know they received the initial request because they issued the notice to complete a SA return because of it.

Muppets!!!

chrismac1

When you consider that these same muppets now seek the powers to monitor accountants and levy fines for "careless errors" and "delays" it makes you spit feathers!

I am OK with that IF and ONLY IF I can charge HMRC at the same level each and every time they make a careless error or delay on one of my letters or submisisons. My profits would double!

carebear13

my hubbys didnt come for ages so he rang and complained and strangely the next day had an email etc. lol. give them a ring and a flea in their ear

charlotte_rose

spent £20 on calls to them today. very very frustrating experience. I dont know why I bother to chase them to pay my tax

First person said they had no record of me. Then next said he did have a record but not UTR. They said they will send it and it will arrive in 5 weeks. Must be being sent from the moon?

chrismac1

I suggest in these cases noting:

1. Date and time of the call.
2. Name of person you spoke to.
3. Office that person was physically sitting in.
4. What you spoke about.

Save this to your PC. Then when this call is denied in 6 or 12 months time if HMRC still has not issued a UTR you are covered.

This piece of advice has saved my clients literally thousands of pounds in fines over the past few years. When you confront HMRC with this they wipe the fines. At the end of the day, if they are incapable of issuing a UTR / VAT number etc. and you make a reasonable effort, why should that be your problem?

charlotte_rose

chrismac1 wrote: »

I suggest in these cases noting:

1. Date and time of the call.
2. Name of person you spoke to.
3. Office that person was physically sitting in.
4. What you spoke about.

Save this to your PC. Then when this call is denied in 6 or 12 months time if HMRC still has not issued a UTR you are covered.

This piece of advice has saved my clients literally thousands of pounds in fines over the past few years. When you confront HMRC with this they wipe the fines. At the end of the day, if they are incapable of issuing a UTR / VAT number etc. and you make a reasonable effort, why should that be your problem?

totally agree. as a tutor in schools, I need it for the council, else I wont get paid