Unable to access self assessment return online

Self employed but unable to complete verification process to enable completion of SA tax return

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Hi.  One of my relations (born in England) is self employed in the construction industry, having CIS deductions made from his earnings.  He has his National Insurance number, a bank account with a debit card, a UTR and has a government gateway user id and password.  However, when we tried to complete his ITR online - he was unable to be 'verified',  as he doesn't possess either a UK passport, credit card or phone contract.  I was directed to contact the SA helpline and was told that unless he had 2 of the preceding items then, for the forseeable future, he would have to complete a paper return! I realise that a large percentage of the population would have a credit card and a phone contract, but it seems vaguely annoying that he will have to get these in order to complete his ITR online.  Just wondered if anyone else had come across this?

Replies (7)

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By gillybean04
01st Jun 2022 12:18

Yes, it's been reported in the media also.

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By Hugo Fair
01st Jun 2022 12:23

Best not to be a square-peg in a world where HMRC only creates round holes.

It's frankly insane, but they no longer care about universality - just whether something works for 95% of their 'customers'!

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By DKB-Sheffield
01st Jun 2022 15:11

He could always move to NI and get an NI Driving Licence!

I know there are highly justified reasons why NI driving licences HAD to be added to the list, and that is not my point. However, I fail to see the contra justification as to why UK 'mainland' driving licences CAN'T also be added.

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Replying to DKB-Sheffield:
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By Hugo Fair
01st Jun 2022 18:07

Apparently DVLC refused to allow access (citing GDPR!), whereas the NI data is not part of their remit. Pathetic is too kind a description for it.

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Replying to Hugo Fair:
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By DKB-Sheffield
01st Jun 2022 18:42

Government refusing to give access to Government information?! You couldn't make it up!

Strangely, with a share code, and appropriate 3rd-party software, I can access sufficient information to validate that same ID, AND obtain full access to the driver's history, misdemeanours, and penalties!

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By Lizzie D
01st Jun 2022 15:39

Thank you all for your comments, which are much appreciated. Yes, I didn’t even list the option of an NI driving licence, which unsurprisingly he hasn’t got either. It’s so unnecessary to be marginalised like this. I did hope that once one paper return had been accepted, that would be sufficient - but evidently not! I worked for HMRC 30 years ago, in what now seem to be ‘the good old days’!☺️

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Replying to Lizzie D:
By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
01st Jun 2022 17:49

I think its outrageous myself, it effectively makes non-UK passport holders second class citizens in the UK in terms of access. You try being from overseas and not the UK, its even worse. The current system amounts essentially institutional racism, but non-UK born citizens are rather used to being treated like XXXX.

Friends of ours were in an awful state recently as the home office withdrew an indefinite leave to remain in error. Had they not been educated professionals with deep pockets to fight it, they probably would have got kicked out of the country. They have two children born here as is one of the couple. Imagine having to uproot your whole family country due to your wife being thrown out. The home office blithely said only the wife had to go. She is breastfeeding! They have hopefully now backed down but a phenomenal amount of stress for what amounts to an admin error. This sort of thing is so common it rarely makes the press.

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