Urgent help - Id theft - HMRC - Benefit claims

Joltenjolten · 10 December 2017 at 6:30AM

I've just had a letter from HMRC saying I owe tax for year 2016/17. There are earnings from a company I've never heard of. I've spoken to HMRC and they say I have earnings from 15/16 too. The earnings seem to be sporadic and changes seem to have been made after end of tax yr. I've told them I've never worked for this company or heard of them and the person I spoke to filled out a form to send to another dept. I've also never had any paperwork from HMRC with this name before. The company seems to be some umbrella payroll co who haven't filed documents with companies house so I'm really concerned.

A friend told me that if my NI number and personal details are being used like this then someone could be claiming benefits like housing in my name. How do I check this? I work part time and have never claimed any benefits (only child benefit) as I am married and have savings above any limits.

Any advice gratefully received as I am getting very worried and don't know what to do.

borkid · 10 December 2017 at 9:58AM

Have you checked your credit file to see if they have or tried to take out loans in your name? Plus what yuor friend has suggested.
Do you know whart sort of amounts are involved? ( Don't want an actual answer) Maybe a small part of a money laundering scam?

trigger_fish · 10 December 2017 at 10:17AM

I remember once a long time ago I went to sign on.

But I noticed the NI number wasn't mine.

A person with exactly the same name signed on twice and probably got double bubble on the giro in those times.

I heard the job centre worker saying that the person who did this was in extreme trouble but never heard anymore about it.

DCFC79 · 10 December 2017 at 10:49AM

You should contact the HMRC and inform them of this. Photocopy any documents and send the copies with a letter to HMRC.

Darksparkle · 10 December 2017 at 3:24PM

It might not be ID theft. It could just be a mismatch of details.

xylophone · 10 December 2017 at 3:51PM

I've spoken to HMRC and they say I have earnings from 15/16 too. The earnings seem to be sporadic and changes seem to have been made after end of tax yr. I've told them I've never worked for this company or heard of them and the person I spoke to filled out a form to send to another dept

Should you wait for a few weeks to see whether HMRC write to you concerning the matter?

Have you checked your personal tax account?

https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account

theartfullodger · 10 December 2017 at 3:54PM

(When checking what my pension should be..) I found the wrong NI number (one digit..) had been used, as it happens by an umbrella company - at least 10 years ago so not this case. Eventually got this sorted..

Think I'd ask HMRC for copy of reported records & see if it's your name used with your NI number. Could be a simple error...

TELLIT01 · 10 December 2017 at 6:05PM

It's more likely to have been caused by an incorrect entry than by intentional identity theft. Nonetheless it's something that needs to be resolved now. Keep in contact with HMRC about it, don't just assume that because you have already spoken to them everything will get sorted.

Joltenjolten · 11 December 2017 at 1:54PM

Just an update. I called DWP and asked them to check my NI records. They can't and told me to speak to HMRC . Spoke to HMRC and they said they can't see benefits. Eventually after explaining how worried I was they said they could see I'd claimed unemployment benefit. This is completely untrue so I went back to DWP fraud and they will refer it. Looks like my details are being used.

Urgent help - Id theft - HMRC - Benefit claims

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