Copy of Cheque

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lindabea
lindabea Posts: 1,477 Forumite
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in Budgeting & bank accounts
A brief background first. My partner sent a cheque to HMRC as payment of unpaid tax. This has been cashed and cleared some 4 months ago. As his tax account is still showing the payment as outstanding, he rang them up yesterday to ask if they received the cheque. After several times being left hanging on the phone, their final reply is that they can't see the cheque on their system but will investigate further. This investigation will take two months.

Anyway, my question is this. In the event that they come back and continue to say that they have not received the cheque and no doubt they'll put the onus on him to prove payment, is it possible to obtain a copy of the cheque from his bank with details of the beneficiary account.
Before doing something... do nothing
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  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,825 Forumite
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    Yes, or a part copy of your bank statement
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • lindabea
    lindabea Posts: 1,477 Forumite
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    He already has the bank statement showing the cheque as paid, but it only shows the cheque number. It doesn't even show the name of the beneficiary which would have been the case if he was allowed to make a payment online. I have never come across such a disgraceful and inept organisation as HMRC.
    Before doing something... do nothing
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 16,924 Forumite
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    You contact the bank and ask them for a copy of the front and back of the cheque, there may be a fee for that.

    When the copy is received, you send a copy to HMRC asking them to trace it; keep a photocopy of your letter / cheque.

    Cheques have the sort code / account number stamped on the back of the cheque and also where it was paid in.

    HMRC use the info from the back to locate the payment, possibly in one of their holding accounts as it's not been allocated.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear it in 2026.
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 14,455 Forumite
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    Give bank call quick.
    Cheques are only stored for a very short time before being destroyed. So unless they keep a digital copy, it is impossible to get the original.

    This used to be a regular occurrence. Cheques stolen destined for HMRC. So easy to change the name. And then takes months before anyone realises.

    That is why payment should be made via banking payments.
    Life in the slow lane
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 44,426 Forumite
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    https://supportcentre.natwest.com/TELEPHONEBANKINGCHATAO/913230452/How-do-I-find-out-who-I-paid-a-cheque-to.htm

    Have you tried ringing your bank?
  • boo_star
    boo_star Posts: 3,202 Forumite
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    born_again wrote: »
    Give bank call quick.
    Cheques are only stored for a very short time before being destroyed. So unless they keep a digital copy, it is impossible to get the original.

    This used to be a regular occurrence. Cheques stolen destined for HMRC. So easy to change the name. And then takes months before anyone realises.

    That is why payment should be made via banking payments.


    Why would the OP need the original? The cheque will have been scanned by the bank and that is all that will be needed to prove the debt has been paid.
  • Ben8282
    Ben8282 Posts: 4,821 Forumite
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    edited 17 January 2020 at 4:53AM
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    Surprised that the OP's partner never received some sort of automated reminder from HMRC if the payment is now 4 months overdue. 4 months ago not being the normal time for self assessment payments to be made, HMRC had presumably been in contact with OP's partner regarding this unpaid tax so strange they left it and sent nothing further when it was not received. This would almost imply that they do know they have received it. Is it possible that if this cheque was for unpaid tax from the past, it wouldn't be showing on the tax account in the normal way? Does the account still show this amount as overdue? Have they been charging interest on this unpaid tax all this time?
    The most likely other explanation is that this payment has been incorrectly allocated or possibly not allocated at all.
  • MDMD
    MDMD Posts: 1,431 Forumite
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    Ben8282 wrote: »
    Surprised that the OP's partner never received some sort of automated reminder from HMRC if the payment is now 4 months overdue. 4 months ago not being the normal time for self assessment payments to be made.
    It’s probably a PAYE underpayment on the personal tax account, not Self Assessment.

    In some case these cannot be paid electronically and must be paid by cheque.
  • lindabea
    lindabea Posts: 1,477 Forumite
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    MDMD wrote: »
    It’s probably a PAYE underpayment on the personal tax account, not Self Assessment.

    In some case these cannot be paid electronically and must be paid by cheque.

    Your assumptions here are all correct. This is indeed a PAYE underpayment and not self-assessment. As I already explained, my partner asked for the payment to be made by bank transfer, but HMRC said that they can only accept PAYE payments by cheque. Apparently, online payments/bank transfers are only available to SA. Also, my partner was told that he does not meet their SA criteria.

    He already phoned his bank; we're waiting for someone from the cheque clearance dept. to call back.
    Before doing something... do nothing
  • JuicyJesus
    JuicyJesus Posts: 3,830 Forumite
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    lindabea wrote: »
    It doesn't even show the name of the beneficiary which would have been the case if he was allowed to make a payment online.

    HMRC do allow you to make payments online. Either by bank transfer from your bank or by debit/credit card on their website.
    urs sinserly,
    ~~joosy jeezus~~
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