US Customs Requiring Social Security Information

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:09 am

As this discussion of UK taxes is now rather removed from the original thread topic, I won't make any more posts about it.

nbg · Post by **nbg** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:13 am

JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:40 am Theirs loads of discussion about it.

It's a sort of perfect storm.
personal allowances haven't been increased for a number of years. For 2023/34 if you have interest in excess of £1000 you have to pay tax on the excess. Interest rates have risen so at 5% interest, you need savings of only around £20000 to hit that limit. For this year 2024/25 the figure of £1000 is dropping to £500, so even with interest rates falling back you will only need savings of wrong £12000. For retired people, the old age pension has increased over the last few years so the pension itself is almost at the level of the personal allowance.therefore you need only a modest additional earnings amount from further pensions and investment income to need to pay tax and complete a tax return.

This was HMRC at the start of 2024 for tax year 2022/23. There will be many more people now needing to complete tax returns for 2023/24 (submit by the end of Jan 25, and even more in the current tax year.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/less ... o-be-filed

Here's a guardian article about it.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/ ... avers-told
(I just went back to this, and now there's a registration wall for me)

This will affect pensioners in particular who may not appreciate they have to pay tax, may not have computers and smart phones, and may not have the understanding to complete what are really quite complex forms.

Here's a daily mail/mail online article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... m-hit.html

Well you have stated a number of correct points, however your statement…
“This means that millions of people who have never had to complete a tax return previously now need to do so” Is an incorrect conclusion!

1). Many of those who will pay tax on their savings income for the first time were already completing tax returns.
2). It is easy to have an adjustment included in a notice of coding in respect of estimated savings income, without the requirement to complete a tax return.
3). The personal savings allowance remains at £1,000 for 2024/05 for basic rate taxpayers. It is the dividend allowance that has reduced from £1,000 to £500.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... allowances

Yes some will be required to complete a tax return for the first time, but it won’t be millions more.

Neil

Caller · Post by **Caller** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 3:32 pm

JAFO wrote: ↑Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:58 pm @Caller. I'm not so sure we wouldn't give out an NI No. You have to give it to open an ISA with any financial institution, for instance. If customs needed it for import documentation I am sure we would give it without a thought really.

Thats a new one on me, I certainly didn't need to do that when I opened an ISA or two, whenever that was.

I can't think of any reason that would require them to request a NiNo? What would they use it for? what does it prove? Unless they have some way of veryfying via the system that stores such data, about who the holder of the NiNo is, as it is a unique identifier that is used to store pretty much your whole life history in one place. As such, security was very strict and access very limited to most. On saying that, I have been retired since 2013 and much has changed in that time. And yes, I did use to have access.

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:44 pm

I have had to supply my SSN to import a watch before. It is a one and done for all later watches. You either give them your business information or your SSN. I don't know why they need this but they do. CW or DHL won't be able to help get around this in my experience. It is an unusual request as it always comes out of nowhere but if you want the watch this is necessary.

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm

Caller wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 3:32 pm
JAFO wrote: ↑Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:58 pm @Caller. I'm not so sure we wouldn't give out an NI No. You have to give it to open an ISA with any financial institution, for instance. If customs needed it for import documentation I am sure we would give it without a thought really.
Thats a new one on me, I certainly didn't need to do that when I opened an ISA or two, whenever that was.

I can't think of any reason that would require them to request a NiNo? What would they use it for? what does it prove? Unless they have some way of veryfying via the system that stores such data, about who the holder of the NiNo is, as it is a unique identifier that is used to store pretty much your whole life history in one place. As such, security was very strict and access very limited to most. On saying that, I have been retired since 2013 and much has changed in that time. And yes, I did use to have access.

Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.

albionphoto · Post by **albionphoto** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm

There have been a number of posts on this issue over the years. Heck, I might have made one myself in the past. but, as I said above, if you want the watch then your SSN is going to be needed. This is neither CWs or DHL's fault but a US government requirement.

WileyECoyote · Post by **WileyECoyote** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:02 pm

I think part of the issue here or from my perspective is the lack of consistency. I have bought over a dozen watches from Christopher Ward, some being over the $800 import threshold, & have never been asked to provide my social security number. Although I do agree, looks like a case of providing the required information or allowing it to go back.

Delmar

Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:44 pm

JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm
Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.

Sorry Dave, it doesn't.

A UK National Insurance Number is issued in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both the following are true:

1. you live in the UK
2. a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

It remains with you for life. There are a number of other circumstances in which a person may be issued with a National Insurance Number.

Full details may be found on the Gov.UK website

"You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only." - however you do not need to be a UK Tax Payer to have a National Insurance number, merely that you have satisfied the requirements of UK Residency at a point in time to be issued with one.

Guy

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:35 am

I know what my NI No represents, and was sure it's always asked. I remember what a pain it was to have to keep looking up my number YY..........

I still checked and picked the first random ISA application I saw, and it does ask for an NI No.. See the popup on National Identifiers. Interesting, as I'd never seen that information before.

https://www.jarvisim.co.uk/secure/share ... AccTyp=SXS

And this one
https://www.moneyboxapp.com/faqs/fees-a ... %20Pension.

Caller · Post by **Caller** » Mon Aug 05, 2024 3:42 pm

JAFO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:35 am I still checked and picked the first random ISA application I saw, and it does ask for an NI No.. See the popup on National Identifiers. Interesting, as I'd never seen that information before.

https://www.jarvisim.co.uk/secure/share ... AccTyp=SXS

And this one
https://www.moneyboxapp.com/faqs/fees-a ... %20Pension.

That makes no sense to me, HMRC already have that information. And they can link the NiNo to the applicant simply via name and DOB. I cant remember providing my NiNo, but that was years ago. The advice previously was not to give your NiNo to anyone, I am really surprised to see that info needed on an application form.

I wonder where those forms are processed?

scampbell61 · Post by **scampbell61** » Thu Aug 08, 2024 6:17 pm

Quick Update: I never sent in the requested information but the watch was delivered on Monday. I had no updates from US Customs, DHL, or CW before the delivery. The next day had to send the watch back to CW for a repair, crown was bound up and almost impossible to wind.

Another day in the life!

tikkathree · Post by **tikkathree** » Thu Aug 08, 2024 6:42 pm

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:44 pm
JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm
Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.
Sorry Dave, it doesn't.

A UK National Insurance Number is issued in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both the following are true:

1. you live in the UK
2. a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

It remains with you for life. There are a number of other circumstances in which a person may be issued with a National Insurance Number.

Full details may be found on the Gov.UK website

"You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only." - however you do not need to be a UK Tax Payer to have a National Insurance number, merely that you have satisfied the requirements of UK Residency at a point in time to be issued with one.

Guy

Oooh - this sounds like real workplace knowledge?

In the circumstances we're discussing I wonder if giving a wrong NiNO in the correct format AANNNNNNA would slip under the net?

Post by **Bahnstormer_vRS** » Thu Aug 08, 2024 6:51 pm

tikkathree wrote:
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:44 pm
JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm
Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.
Sorry Dave, it doesn't.

A UK National Insurance Number is issued in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both the following are true:

1. you live in the UK
2. a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

It remains with you for life. There are a number of other circumstances in which a person may be issued with a National Insurance Number.

Full details may be found on the Gov.UK website

"You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only." - however you do not need to be a UK Tax Payer to have a National Insurance number, merely that you have satisfied the requirements of UK Residency at a point in time to be issued with one.

Guy
Oooh - this sounds like real workplace knowledge?

In the circumstances we're discussing I wonder if giving a wrong NiNO in the correct format AANNNNNNA would slip under the net?

No workplace knowledge at all Pete, merely quoting from the link I posted.

The link also includes circumstances when you will be required to disclose your NI number.

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

JAFO · Post by **JAFO** » Thu Aug 08, 2024 7:26 pm

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:44 pm
JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm
Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.
Sorry Dave, it doesn't.

A UK National Insurance Number is issued in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both the following are true:

1. you live in the UK
2. a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

It remains with you for life. There are a number of other circumstances in which a person may be issued with a National Insurance Number.

Full details may be found on the Gov.UK website

"You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only." - however you do not need to be a UK Tax Payer to have a National Insurance number, merely that you have satisfied the requirements of UK Residency at a point in time to be issued with one.

Guy

I didn't mean UK taxpayer as such. I meant a UK resident recognized by HMRC as entitled not to pay tax on ISA interest.

Just a legitimate identification document everyone would have.

[Edit. And I know there's a lot of funny business with NI numbers, supposedly more in existence than there are people, and so on ]

Maybe Banks and BS don't need to supply HMRC with interest payment records for ISAs although I expect they still do. I know they supply details of taxable interest payments.

nbg · Post by **nbg** » Fri Aug 09, 2024 8:40 am

JAFO wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2024 7:26 pm
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 10:44 pm
JAFO wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:46 pm
Maybe the NI No proves you are a UK tax payer.
Sorry Dave, it doesn't.

A UK National Insurance Number is issued in the 3 months before your 16th birthday if both the following are true:

1. you live in the UK
2. a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you

It remains with you for life. There are a number of other circumstances in which a person may be issued with a National Insurance Number.

Full details may be found on the Gov.UK website

"You have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only." - however you do not need to be a UK Tax Payer to have a National Insurance number, merely that you have satisfied the requirements of UK Residency at a point in time to be issued with one.

Guy
I didn't mean UK taxpayer as such. I meant a UK resident recognized by HMRC as entitled not to pay tax on ISA interest.

Just a legitimate identification document everyone would have.

Maybe Banks and BS don't need to supply HMRC with interest payment records for ISAs although I expect they still do. I know they supply details of taxable interest payments.

I understand that HMRC are supplied with lots of information that may be of interest to them, that most taxpayers are blissfully unaware of!

Neil

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