Trying to change maiden name to married

Cottage_Economy

Hoping someone can advise me on this.Between 2005 and 2010 I was self-employed as a freelancer, and between 2010 to present I have been full time employed, but have continued with my freelance business on a much reduced level(employer knows and is happy with it as long as it doesn't go above a certain number of hours a week).

I got married in 2006 and during the year that followed contacted HMRC three times to have my maiden name changed to my married name. At the time my tax office was taking 7 or 8 weeks to process letters, so for the first few months it was a case of send off, wait the weeks, contact by phone, no sign of letter yet, wait a few more weeks, nothing yet, send it again etc etc. I was advised by an HMRC person on one occasion not to bother sending anything my registered mail as the stuff is signed for 'en masse' and is no guarantee it has reached the right place or been read.

After I received nothing the third time I just gave up and have been submitting returns in my maiden name and paying the tax and NI through accounts in my married name. All my records, invoices to clients, payments, accounts etc bar the HMRC one are all in my married name - everything was changed within days of me coming back off my honeymoon.

Every year I go online to do my self-assessment and every year I see my maiden name come up and just can't face another struggle to get my details accepted. Finally, I have decided I have to sort this out. A friend has told me that HMRC is much better and faster at processing information now, but for obvious reasons now I'm worried about telling them I've been married six years. It looks hugely dodgy when it's not and I'm worried I'm going to trigger some horrendous audit off.

I have a complete set of records to go with each year's tax assessment, but all I have as evidence I sent my details off three times are the letters on my computer, which have the date on, but let's face it could have been written at any time.

Is there anyone with experience or advice about the ramifications of this situation?

Am I getting worked up about nothing?

Pennywise

Did you actually send them a certified copy of your marriage certificate?

If not, then perhaps whoever eventually looked at your letter simply disregarded it due to their being no "proof".

Certainly sometimes when I've tried to change a client name, they've asked for proof.

I can't imagine any problem with a late notification. Just write to them (correct address from HMRC website), give your UTR and NINO, enclose your previous correspondence and a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

As to whether or not they're better these days, that's a matter of opinion. I've certainly been waiting several months and having to send regular reminders for various clients, and other accountants say exactly the same thing. But then again, sometimes things do get done remarkably quickly. I think it depends on whose desk the letter lands (metaphorically speaking as everythings on computer these days) on and whether they know what to do with it. In the old days, anything too difficult was often binned and conveniently "lost", but I don't think they can do that now as all post should be logged electronically.

Cottage_Economy

Ahhhhhhhh....no. I thought I was asked to send a copy. I must have misheard the word certified or something.The penny drops....Cheers Pennywise!

Cottage_Economy

My local council has an online service for ordering what they call a 'Registrars Copy Certificate' for £10.Is this the same thing?

System

Yes. All birth certificates are copies - there is no "original" - a registrar's copy just means an authorised registrar has copied details from the original register entry.
Certain individuals are authorised to make certified copies of registrars' copies, eg solicitors, etc, as they can of anything else.
But an ordinary individual's photocopy is not a certified copy.

dori2o

Just phone up and change your name over the phone. Simples.

Cook_County

Have you changed your name at a Jobcentre Plus? This is vital to get UK government records correct.

Cottage_Economy

dori2o - not simples. You have to provide proof of a name change so regardless of whether I phone or write it still needs to be done.
Clifford_Pope - the JobCentre Plus site is now the www.gov.uk, and any searches on that site for name changes relating to NI or tax sends you straight through to HMRC's site anyway.
Interesting update: the registrar cannot find any record of my marriage. Apparently as it took place in a church and 'that's not common any more' they probably wouldn't have it. Finding records of modern marriages are an 'interesting issue' apparently (?).Advised to speak to the current vicar in my parish and see if they can help.
I would hope so!

dori2o

Cottage_Economy wrote: »

dori2o - not simples. You have to provide proof of a name change so regardless of whether I phone or write it still needs to be done.
Clifford_Pope - the JobCentre Plus site is now the www.gov.uk, and any searches on that site for name changes relating to NI or tax sends you straight through to HMRC's site anyway.
Interesting update: the registrar cannot find any record of my marriage. Apparently as it took place in a church and 'that's not common any more' they probably wouldn't have it. Finding records of modern marriages are an 'interesting issue' apparently (?).Advised to speak to the current vicar in my parish and see if they can help.
I would hope so!

No you don't.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/report-changes/individual/name-address.htm#2

You can even do it by email http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/change-of-circs.htm

If you file your tax return online you can do it via the online Service.

You do not have to show proof of a change of name.

It would be helpful though for you to provide your spouses Name and NI number, and the date you got married so the records can be fully updated.

Cottage_Economy

Interesting.

I had to send my actual marriage certificate to the DVLA to change the name on my driving licence.

I had to present my marriage certificate to have a new passport issued in my married name.

I presented myself in the bank as requested with my marriage certificate to prove my change of name.

But HMRC, which holds all of my financial records, just wants me to fill in an online form or send them an email saying 'I've changed my name (honest!).'.

OK. Will fill in the details of the online form and submit it tonight.

barak

Cottage_Economy wrote: »

My local council has an online service for ordering what they call a 'Registrars Copy Certificate' for £10.Is this the same thing?

Probably not now relevant, but if you don't have a friendly solicitor who will make certified copies of the one you have, you can obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate [for £9.25] by registering with the GRO website.

https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate