Reply to: HMRC chasing my closed Ltd for Class 1 NI that should've been sent from umbrella

[Fred Bloggs]

No good
They've said because the company is dissolved, they can't discuss anything over the phone (even tell me whether the letter is genuine) and that I'll have to write in.


Accountant says that the phone number is genuine (I won't risk it!!), it's just not listed on their website.
Accountant says that the PAYE scheme had been closed and must have somehow re-opened and that they will close it again.

That's good news. HMRC have told you what you already know. The company has ceased to exist. At this point, I agree with Maslins. Just make a note in your diary of the time and date of the call and forget about it is my opinion.

[Maslins]

Lol. The company is dissolved. Ie it's dead. Any debts it might have had would die with it. I guess legally because the company is dead, your directorship of it is perhaps irrelevant now, so they won't speak to you re it? Does beg the question who they would speak to about it now.

I don't think this is a scam, it's just a daft automated HMRC letter. Their PAYE dept presumably for some reason still has this company registered as an active employer, despite it being dissolved already. Just roll your eyes at incompetent HMRC and forget about it. If they send further chaser letters later I'd say the same thing. If they ever want to actually try to pursue something legally, it'll take a human their end to look at it, who will notice the company is dissolved and drop it.

[PTP]

Well done, be sure to tell us the outcome.

No good
They've said because the company is dissolved, they can't discuss anything over the phone (even tell me whether the letter is genuine) and that I'll have to write in.


Accountant says that the phone number is genuine (I won't risk it!!), it's just not listed on their website.
Accountant says that the PAYE scheme had been closed and must have somehow re-opened and that they will close it again.

[Fred Bloggs]

In progress. Just waiting in the 20+ minute queue

Well done, be sure to tell us the outcome.

[PTP]

Just call the number eek gave you and ask them?

In progress. Just waiting in the 20+ minute queue

[Fred Bloggs]

People on those websites say various other typos/clues they've seen that indicate to them that it's a fraud.

I've not seen any of those on my letter...BUT
I've noticed that there isn't a Paying HMRC section on the last page with lots of payment methods
Whereas there was on a self-assessment letter received recently
So I wonder whether genuine company debt letters would have a last page with lots of payment methods??

Just call the number eek gave you and ask them?

[PTP]

People on those websites say various other typos/clues they've seen that indicate to them that it's a fraud.

I've not seen any of those on my letter...BUT
I've noticed that there isn't a Paying HMRC section on the last page with lots of payment methods
Whereas there was on a self-assessment letter received recently
So I wonder whether genuine company debt letters would have a last page with lots of payment methods??

[Fred Bloggs]

How did the scammers get the right payroll reference though? Is that published somewhere?

Good question, but the page eek linked to says -

The payment reference may or may not be incorrect

[PTP]

Thanks Eek for all your help in this.

I've already got a phone call booked with my old-accountant this afternoon. I'll see what they say about any checks they've done / experiences they've had with this.

[JHamp82]

Looking at the letter it appears payroll for these periods was not submitted by your accountant and PAYE scheme is still active. I would just forward this letter to the accountant and ask them to do the submission and close the scheme.

[ladymuck]

How did the scammers get the right payroll reference though? Is that published somewhere?

[eek]

If you do want to speak to HMRC start at 0300 200 3200 (HMRC Employer helpline) - for things like this (which is either a scam or a screw up by them) they really won't bite.

[malvolio]

Actually it looks like a scam

SCAM HMRC LETTER - WARNING | David Beckman & Co Ltd

Only revealed by checking the number...

I take it the companies registered address is where the letter went to?

See also

Who Called Me from 03002003819? | UK Free Reverse Phone Lookup (unknownphone.com) which has an email address to foreward the letter to...

Yep, totally agree. Have a look here...

[Fred Bloggs]

Actually it looks like a scam

SCAM HMRC LETTER - WARNING | David Beckman & Co Ltd

Only revealed by checking the number...

I take it the companies registered address is where the letter went to?

See also

Who Called Me from 03002003819? | UK Free Reverse Phone Lookup (unknownphone.com) which has an email address to foreward the letter to...

Nice one, eek.

[PTP]

So are the payroll details on the letter correct or does it differ?

You options here are to find an hmrc number (not the one on the letter and ring it, that used to be easy when they used local physical
offices) or something similar. The issue is something really doesn't add up here and so it's the question of is this a scam or is it a screw up (that seems unlikely given that the agency doesn't have your old details).

It's the correct Payroll Reference