keeping married name for work after divorce

[Deleted User]

I am in the process of reverting to my previous name following my divorce. I work in the public sector and have contact with a great number of people in my job. For my own personal privacy, I would prefer to use my married name at work. However, my employer has said that its not possible to change my name for payroll purposes and keep my old name for the email account etc. My question is this; if I change my name with HMRC and leave my married name for work, will it cause problems when the PAYE and NI returns are done?

Ive googled this but cant find an answer.

theoretica

It is not uncommon for people to keep their maiden name professionally and their married name for work so it must be possible - though may rely on a more flexible work IT system.

LittleVoice

Missu wrote: »

I am in the process of reverting to my previous name following my divorce. I work in the public sector and have contact with a great number of people in my job. For my own personal privacy, I would prefer to use my married name at work. However, my employer has said that its not possible to change my name for payroll purposes and keep my old name for the email account etc. My question is this; if I change my name with HMRC and leave my married name for work, will it cause problems when the PAYE and NI returns are done?

Ive googled this but cant find an answer.

Why not keep the "married" name for work, including payroll. Money goes into an account in that name.

Transfer money from that account to whatever accounts you like in your "previous" name.

HMRC will track you through your NI number.

Mrs_Ryan

I use a different name for work but am paid into an account in my usual name with no problem. (I double barrelled my surname with my partner's and it was such a hassle to get it changed that work is the only place I use it, but my account is in my surname alone)

Glennn

It is important you use your correct name with payroll. A little thing called RTI is being introduced and they like things reported correctly.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/dip/get-payroll-right.htm

Glennn

Glennn wrote: »

It is important you use your correct name with payroll. A little thing called RTI is being introduced and they like things reported correctly.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/dip/get-payroll-right.htm

Though I don't know why you can't still use your married name for other purposes (email, etc)

anamenottaken

Glennn wrote: »

It is important you use your correct name with payroll. A little thing called RTI is being introduced and they like things reported correctly.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/dip/get-payroll-right.htm

"Correct name"?

Getting it "right" for HMRC means they want a full, official, first name and correctly spelt surname.

HMRC will already have a record of the OP's name as used at work. The name and DOB help ensure they are tracking the right person. It is really the NI number which is vital as name and dob may not be unique.

Really it is for the convenience of the employer that the payroll name and known name at work are the same. It will mean that audit of their records can easily be tracked and that they are paying a real person. (Remember M Mouse and similar characters being paid fraudulently?)

zzzLazyDaisy

The opposite way round, but when I got married, I continued to use my maiden name for professional reasons. My salary was still paid into the same account (an account in my sole name) and even when I changed my name on that account to my married name at the bank, that didn't affect payroll, as the sort-code and account number hadn't changed.

Having said all that, I wasn't trying to use two names at work, which I think would have caused confusion. I just carried on being 'Miss LazyDaisy' for everything.

ValHaller

Whichever way you go, there will be a discrepancy somewhere. Either

• Between your employer's payroll and their email systems
• Between your employer' payroll and HMRC

To my mind this has most implications for the employer and I suggest you spell out the implications in terms of the discrepancies I suggest and let them choose where to have the problem

anamenottaken

When I got married, my employer decided to pay me using my husband's surname whereas I had begun work for them using my father's surname.

This was before wide use of bank transfers, so they sent a cheque to my bank branch in the name they had chosen to use but to the correct bank account number.

I then wrote to the bank saying they should not be concerned and that the cheque was indeed for me. Signed the letter using my correct (maiden name) signature. The bank wrote back asking for a sample of my new signature and they would change the name of the account.

I decided the battle was not worth engaging in and so provided a signature. They never asked for evidence of my marriage. Of the accounts I now have (some 40 years later), some are named with my original surname and some my husband's.