National Insurance Number error

NorthernGuy

I'm just catching up with the financial affairs of an elderly relative, now that I have power of attorney over her.  One of her private pensions shows a slightly wrong NI number.  The final letter differs from that used on all other pensions including her DSS Retirement Pension.

I will write to that pension company to try to correct the mistake.  But is it likely to have led to an error in the tax she has been paying?  And is there no mechanism that should have spotted this mistake years ago?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

NorthernGuy said:

I'm just catching up with the financial affairs of an elderly relative, now that I have power of attorney over her.  One of her private pensions shows a slightly wrong NI number.  The final letter differs from that used on all other pensions including her DSS Retirement Pension.

I will write to that pension company to try to correct the mistake.  But is it likely to have led to an error in the tax she has been paying?  And is there no mechanism that should have spotted this mistake years ago?

No. 

If you get to to access her Personal Tax Account you can check the payments are showing up and if the correct tax code is being used.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/national-insurance-manual/nim39110

Keep_pedalling

It should not lead to an error, the original use of the final letter has been redundant for many years and the preceding letters and numbers are unique to her.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f16a9e5274a2e87db3b96/nino-staff-guide-intro.pdf

NorthernGuy

Keep_pedalling said:

It should not lead to an error, the original use of the final letter has been redundant for many years and the preceding letters and numbers are unique to her.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f16a9e5274a2e87db3b96/nino-staff-guide-intro.pdf

Keep_pedalling - thanks, I wondered why the wrong letter hadn't caused an issue.  Now I know it's useless nowadays!

[Deleted User]

Keep_pedalling said:

It should not lead to an error, the original use of the final letter has been redundant for many years and the preceding letters and numbers are unique to her.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f16a9e5274a2e87db3b96/nino-staff-guide-intro.pdf

When PAYE was computerised in the mid 1980s the final letter was deemed to be simply a ‘check character’. It has no significance.