HMRC’s director of customer operations recently disclosed that: “Most employers get their PAYE returns right. The few who do not can cause problems for their employees, for example, incorrect deductions of tax.”
Here’s a few examples of a number who did not get their returns right! Based on incorrect returns submitted HMRC now have the following data in their files:
- 40 people were apparently 200 years old or more, according to incorrect dates of birth on their paperwork.
- 824 employees with forenames but the surname recorded as “unknown”.
- 75 people have simply been named “casual”, 11 as “cleaner”, nine as “worker” and six as “students”.
- 572 people are listed as Mr or Mrs X on their PAYE forms.
- 128 staff are known in their workplace as Mr, Ms or Mrs “Dummy”.
HMRC conclude:
“Around 80% of errors in employee data are due to an incorrect name, date of birth or national insurance number; straightforward information that can be collected and checked quite easily.
So, whether you are employing ‘Mr or Mrs J Smith’ – or even ‘Mr or Mrs A N Other’, please use the full and official name on your PAYE paperwork. First names are very important, especially for common surnames.”
