Removing tax agent from personal HMRC account

GenieBoy

A few years ago when I used a PPI claims firm to claim PPI back (I know it wasn't very MSE but I didn't think I was owed much and I was surprised how much I got back so happy regardless), the same firm claimed back some overpaid tax as part of the claim from the PPI. When they did this they added themselves as my agent with HMRC and as such the refund cheque was issued to them.

Now fast forward a couple of years and I've just had notice from HMRC that I'm owed a small refund of tax for 2022-2023 tax year. In the notice it states they have also notified my "agent" who is the PPI firm I used a few years ago.

How do I remove this PPI firm from acting on my HMRC affairs?
 

SiliconChip

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

Jeremy535897

This may help:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/change-or-remove-your-tax-agents-authorisation

GenieBoy

Jeremy535897 said:

This may help:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/change-or-remove-your-tax-agents-authorisation

I found this before I posted here but it seems to be for businesses not personal accounts.

GenieBoy

SiliconChip said:

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

The contract says it was for the refund of tax from PPI claim, nothing about anything going forward.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account and not by cheque to the "agent" this time.

Jeremy535897

Try the chat option, or write to self assessment at the address given:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/self-assessment

sheramber

GenieBoy said:

SiliconChip said:

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

The contract says it was for the refund of tax from PPI claim, nothing about anything going forward.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account and not by cheque to the "agent" this time.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account

Are you sure about that?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

sheramber said:

GenieBoy said:

SiliconChip said:

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

The contract says it was for the refund of tax from PPI claim, nothing about anything going forward.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account and not by cheque to the "agent" this time.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account

Are you sure about that?

I suspect the op received a P800 and has claimed the money by providing HMRC with their BACS details.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpayments/if-youre-due-a-refund

GenieBoy

sheramber said:

GenieBoy said:

SiliconChip said:

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

The contract says it was for the refund of tax from PPI claim, nothing about anything going forward.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account and not by cheque to the "agent" this time.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account

Are you sure about that?

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

sheramber said:

GenieBoy said:

SiliconChip said:

From what I've read on here about other people who have tax agents acting for them it will come down to what your contract with them says about how to cancel. So dig out the paperwork, or ask them for it again if you don't have it, and follow what it says there.

The contract says it was for the refund of tax from PPI claim, nothing about anything going forward.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account and not by cheque to the "agent" this time.

At least HMRC are paying this refund directly into my bank account

Are you sure about that?

I suspect the op received a P800 and has claimed the money by providing HMRC with their BACS details.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpayments/if-youre-due-a-refund

I logged into my HMRC account and it asked for my bank account number for the refund to be paid into.

GenieBoy

Update: I've emailed the PPI company numerous times over the past few days on all the email addresses I have for them with no response apart from some weird 'mailbox is full' reply from one of the addresses which looked more like it had been compromised and auto replying with malicious links.

The company's website only directs to a web server default page but the domain is still active with DNS records including MX email records.

They are also still an active company according to Companies House.