HMRC - A Giant Leap Backward

Electric_Twit · 7 April 2022 at 2:04PM

Each year I have been able to check on my State Pension Forecast and Tax Code through the online Personal Tax Account. Now that I am a year off of my pension I logged on yesterday 6 Apr to get an update with the beginning of the new financial year. I used to log in using the Governments Digital ID system Gov.UK Verify. Not anymore. Apparently the Government are scrapping the scheme in April 2023, but HMRC have opted out a year earlier and adopted the Government Gateway system. Only there is a problem, you must have a UK Passport amongst other things to prove your identity, which I do not possess. Maybe my driving licence? No, only Northern Irish driving licences are acceptable!
The following article in the Guardian says it all "https: //www.theguardian.com/money/2022/apr/06/hm-revenues-id-rules-are-driving-me-back-to-pen-and-paper". I ended up speaking to the pensions team in DWP who were very helpful and a pension forecast will reach me in about a weeks time. I did ask how things were going and apparently the unannounced HMRC decision has doubled their call volumes and that hearsay says that having cut HMRC staff levels because of the introduction of digital services several years ago under the old identity scheme they are ill equipped to handle the surge in calls, emails and old fashioned paper claims now that they have sprung this change on the public.

GazzaBloom · 7 April 2022 at 3:47PM

Why don't you get a UK passport, costs £75 and lasts 10 years? It's a very valuable and cheap form of Photo ID.

Electric_Twit · 7 April 2022 at 5:20PM

Glad you have £75 quid to spare! I have a photo ID driving licence, which could be used if HMRC had not forgotten to ask DVLA as mentioned in the Guardian article. That of course is £75 per person because my wife also wants to check her pension status.

Thrugelmir · 7 April 2022 at 5:25PM

What other options were available besides a passport?

Linking databases together is a major stepforward not backwards.

400ixl · 7 April 2022 at 5:45PM

Can't you just phone and ask them that way?

Electric_Twit · 7 April 2022 at 10:06PM

You have to pick two options from 1) a UK Passport 2) a credit reference check and 3) a Northern Irish driving licence (because they asked the NI driving agency for permission to access their database, but seem to forget to contact DVLA until a fortnight ago.