Marriage Allowance

polymaff

Ancsa said:

I claimed for marriage allowance through hmrc

These xxxxxs love those in denial.  Get the real HMRC to delete agents registered to deal with your tax affairs - and then, poorer but  wiser, move on.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Apart from a section on the Self Assessment return HMRC don't have any "forms" for Marriage Allowance.

And you cannot "claim" it either.  The person applying (who doesn't get any tax refund from doing so) either does it online (on gov.uk) phones HMRC or sends a letter to HMRC.

The recipient (you) then gets any tax refund due direct from HMRC.

I suggest you and your spouse need to check more carefully before filling in anything again.

unholyangel

Ancsa said:

Debunked said:

Hello all, 
I hope you are all well during this time. I just have a quick querie regarding the ma. My wife sorted it out a while back but didn't realise she was going through a claims company. The page was set up to look like the gov website. They have taken £244.30 of our total amount we were due £640.80, although it does also say we paid tax on the amount we received. I include a photo of the costs. I know this problem has probably been posted before but just needed to know if there is any way we can challenge what has happened? We haven't cashed their cheque yet.
Any advice will be greatly received. 
Kind Regards 
Debunked

Hi, I hope you read this and since then you found out something about it. I just got a very similar letter. I claimed for marriage allowance through hmrc, I know that's the official website I always use that, I filled some forms what they sent and it was official hmrc forms. I can recognise it as I claim child tax credit too. I got an answer, in February I get the allowance and again it was official hmrc letter. They said I get cheque in 14 days. I waited but nothing came, I thought because the corona virus they are slower. Than I thought I loose it now they cancel it because of the corona virus or something. Then yesterday  I got a letter very similar to yours and I was really upset. It can't be true. Than I tied in marriage allowance cheque, clicked on images, how should it look like and your images came up.  The biggest disappointment was the letter was dated 20th March or something and says hand it in 30 days from letter dated... So even if I would like to try to get it I can't as it expired.  The amount is exactly the same as hmrc says but they want to take away the half of it. Almost the 900 I am eligible for and they says  they would take off around 400...what a joke. I tried to reach hmrc but at the moment I can't. I m not using the cheque, please if you find out anything I would like to know. If I get the answers first I let you know

This is actually how you know it wasn't gov.uk you went to - because there is no marriage allowance form so HMRC would never send one. The website would have told you to apply online. 

Note: I am not saying you weren't misled - the marriage allowance ltd company has received much criticism about having a copycat website. But their forms always explicitly state that you are assigning your right to a repayment because without it, hmrc would not be legally obliged to send them the repayment instead of you. Typically this statement is less than an inch from where you sign but there are exceptions. 

HMRC wont be able to do anything I'm afraid, they're legally bound by your assignment. The only way to revoke the authority is with the agreement of the other party (marriage allowance ltd). You'd have to challenge it with the company itself and perhaps send them a letter before action. Perhaps for not giving the information in a durable medium or something like that as the one way these companies fall down is in not making it transparent that you'll have to pay them, never mind what you have to pay them - that's usually buried in the terms and conditions. 

Ancsa

Thx for the answer so probably I not just lost 400, but the rest too as it expired I'm in tears. I filled out on the gov site, I remember and as I check it back now I can recall, the questions, and probably randomly I got a letter from this other company, and probably I thought it must be hmrc, and probably that way I signed, I dont know I m so angry, and disappointed. How can they get away with it... I try to contact hmrc as soon as possible and this company at least to send me a cheque which is not expired. At least get the half money.. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

There should be no logical reason why the company you have signed up with cannot send you a replacement cheque.

But check the small print of whatever you signed up to with them, they may want to charge you a fee for doing this reducing the amount you will end up with.

unholyangel

Ancsa said:

Thx for the answer so probably I not just lost 400, but the rest too as it expired I'm in tears. I filled out on the gov site, I remember and as I check it back now I can recall, the questions, and probably randomly I got a letter from this other company, and probably I thought it must be hmrc, and probably that way I signed, I dont know I m so angry, and disappointed. How can they get away with it... I try to contact hmrc as soon as possible and this company at least to send me a cheque which is not expired. At least get the half money.. 

OP have you actually presented the cheque to see whether it will be paid? Afaik, cheques are generally honoured by most (if not all) banks for a minimum of 6 months. Even over 6 months, they can still be paid out if the sender doesn't put a stop on them. 

Jenna_952

I have searched the forum for some answers on the marriage tax allowance and Maternity leave but couldn't seem to find the info I was looking for.

I am due to go on Maternity leave on the 26th May taking the SMP for 39 weeks but the full 52 weeks entitlement off work.

Am I able to apply for the marriage tax allowance? My husband currently pays the normal 20% tax based on his yearly salary but as i wont be within the threshold whilst on maternity I was hoping I could take some of his tax allowance.

Are you also able to advise when I am eligible to apply if the answer is yes to the above.

Thanks for your help

sheramber

Ancsa said:

Thx for the answer so probably I not just lost 400, but the rest too as it expired I'm in tears. I filled out on the gov site, I remember and as I check it back now I can recall, the questions, and probably randomly I got a letter from this other company, and probably I thought it must be hmrc, and probably that way I signed, I dont know I m so angry, and disappointed. How can they get away with it... I try to contact hmrc as soon as possible and this company at least to send me a cheque which is not expired. At least get the half money.. 

 The letter only ADVISES  that do it within  30 days. I would assume that is to help with their accounting not that the cheque will expire.

Jitter

In the 2019/20 my wife earned £1200.00 before having to stop work due to cancer and passing away in November.
After hearing Martin talking on the radio about it I contacted HMRC in February to apply for Marriage Allowance but was informed that the claim could not be proceed until I had filed my 2019/20 self assessment tax return and to contact them by telephone once this had been done.
I completed my SA last week and tried to telephone HMRC today, their automated system does not give me an option to speak to an agent and suggests I need make an online application. As my wife has passed away it is not possible to progress through the  application online and I am directed to contact them by telephone.
I wonder if anyone can suggest a way that I can progress this.

sheramber

Try webchat https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/income-tax-enquiries-for-individuals-pensioners-and-employees#marriage-allowance
otherwise, can you not ignore the message about claiming online and hang on to speak to an adviser?  
Try calling as soon as they open at 8am or a few minutes  before then, when the lines will not be so bus.