Probate HMRC

[wilko73]

My mum passed 6 or so weeks ago and a solicitor is applying for probate grant only with me dealing with the other bits. I've just had cheque sent from HMRC which is a PAYE tax refund for my mum but the cheque has MRS in front of my name instead of MR it has the correct initial and surname for me though.I looked at the letter that came with it and that says MRS too they know I'm the representative for my mum as it mentions that just the wrong title for me,I then looked at another letter they sent a week before and the same thing,I hadn't noticed at the time.
I do wonder how this occurred though,I think it's likely to be the solicitor when they have been doing probate,as part of their remit for the scope of work for probate it says they prepare any necessary HM Revenue and Custom account in support of the application of grant.I haven't asked them about this yet due to the cost of sending solicitor e mails but this sounds as if that HMRC account has been set up wrongly with me being called a MRS instead of a MR as I assume a section of those forms will ask who the rep/executor is and that was input wrong on that part could this throw a spanner in the works for probate being done properly as surely everything needs to be technically correct.
The solicitor sounds like the person who could sort it out it's to do with the account that's been set up or would it be better to ring the tax office myself?
I'm really worried about this

[wilko73]

Maybe I'm over worrying an the wrong title in front of the correct initial and same surname isn't a big deal but I'm going to be stuck paying that cheque in

[someone]

I'd just try paying it in. At least on my HSBC account I can do it by taking a photo of the cheque, no doubt other banks are similar so it's not a big hassle to try.

Worst case is that they refuse it and you have to go back to HMRC to get the title changed.

Alternatively, do you have a wife? Pay it in to a joint bank account. Mrs <Husbands name> is a old fashioned, not PC way of referring to a married woman but as far as I'm aware it's still a perfectly legal way for a wife to call herself and doesn't need any special paperwork (other than a marriage certificate) if anyone questions it.

[AGoodman]

The "HMRC account" the solicitors will be preparing is the inheritance tax account. That won't in itself trigger an income tax refund as parts of HMRC don't really speak to each other - and even if an IHT account has been filed, it's unlikely it would have been looked at yet.

It's possible the solicitors have written to HMRC separately regarding income tax but if you used the "Tell Us Once" service, this would have gone to HMRC and is more likely to have triggered it.

Finally, don't underestimate the ability of HMRC to screw things up all on their own...