HMRC on Doorstep

beeteecee

Heya,

Not like this wasn't inevitable.
I have just missed an in-person visit from the HMRC - she dropped a letter saying she will come back to discuss how I am going to pay in full. Obviously I can't do this as I need to go bankrupt - was hoping it would be them making me bankrupt or IVA company.

It says if I don't pay when they next visit or arrange an agreement to pay they'll issue a 'Notice of Enforcement' whereby they can take goods (eg my car) - can this be avoided? I need to go bankrupt and am terrified of this disrupting my children's lives and our home.

If I phone her and say it is my intention to make myself bankrupt as soon as I can pay the fee will this settle the matter? I'm really terrified. 

Thank you for any guidance. 

la531983

Stop paying everything. Electric, water, council tax, other debts. How long would it then take you to cobble together the £680 (?) to go bankrupt?

Draw cash from credit cards if needed.

beeteecee

Maybe 2 weeks, but I have a partner (on carer's allowance) so won't all the electricity etc just pass to him? 

la531983

OPbbeeteecee said:

Maybe 2 weeks, but I have a partner (on carer's allowance) so won't all the electricity etc just pass to him? 

Whose name is it in? 

Obviously if you are on a credit meter, stopping paying the electric isnt really an option.

beeteecee

la531983 said:

OPbbeeteecee said:

Maybe 2 weeks, but I have a partner (on carer's allowance) so won't all the electricity etc just pass to him? 

Whose name is it in? 

Obviously if you are on a credit meter, stopping paying the electric isnt really an option.

Just my name. 

beeteecee

I think my concern is what do I say to the HMRC woman? Can I ring her and say I will be declaring bankruptcy within 2-3 weeks - or will they still come back and try and take stuff? 

la531983

beeteecee said:

la531983 said:

OPbbeeteecee said:

Maybe 2 weeks, but I have a partner (on carer's allowance) so won't all the electricity etc just pass to him? 

Whose name is it in? 

Obviously if you are on a credit meter, stopping paying the electric isnt really an option.

Just my name. 

What will happen is the account would be closed, balance written off, and a new one opened from that point.

You can tell them, in the meantime move your car away from the house and let nobody in the house and instruct everyone to do the same, dont even answer the door. Close all windows etc.

beeteecee

la531983 said:

beeteecee said:

la531983 said:

OPbbeeteecee said:

Maybe 2 weeks, but I have a partner (on carer's allowance) so won't all the electricity etc just pass to him? 

Whose name is it in? 

Obviously if you are on a credit meter, stopping paying the electric isnt really an option.

Just my name. 

What will happen is the account would be closed, balance written off, and a new one opened from that point.

You can tell them, in the meantime move your car away from the house and let nobody in the house and instruct everyone to do the same, dont even answer the door. Close all windows etc.

Got it - will move car now. No one will answer the door - they're not supposed to anyway. 

beeteecee

Business debtline have advised telling them I've spoken to them and asking for 30 days hold on any action so I can sort the bankruptcy fee etc...attempting to do that now...and not die of stress. 

sourcrates

HMRC or any bailiff company acting on their behalf, are subject to the same rules and restrictions as any other bailiff.

They cannot force entry, they can enter through an unlocked door, so keeping doors locked will keep them outside.

A car parked outside can be seized, but in all honesty, unless you have a Renoir or Cezanne painting you had forgotten about, they won`t be interested in household goods as they are simply not worth their time and effort as they fetch virtually nothing second hand.

Its the threat of such a visit that usually prompts action from the debtor, and that is what they will be relying on, so there is no undue haste here, remember, their actions are designed to induce a response.

beeteecee

Thanks as always @sourcrates I was able to phone the woman who visited and she was so lovely I was shocked. I explained I'm hoping to enter voluntary bankruptcy soon but do not have the funds and have referred myself to the HMRC extra support team to see if they'll pursue bankruptcy instead...my tax adviser also said I should push for my IVA company to action it as he believes it was mis-sold & I wouldn't still be in this mess if they'd acted honestly.

I can't say I've got the mental capacity to start fighting with anybody over the situation right now and just want it dealt with before I have a stroke.