How you tell HMRC about a name change depends on whether you are employed or self-employed. If you are on PAYE, your employer usually does it for you. If you file your own tax, you update HMRC yourself. Either way it is free, your deed poll is the only evidence you need, and your National Insurance number and Unique Taxpayer Reference both stay the same.
How to tell HMRC about a name change
Employed on PAYE? Give your employer a certified copy of your deed poll. They update payroll, and HMRC is notified automatically through the Real Time Information (RTI) system, so you do not need to contact HMRC at all. Call 0300 200 3300 only if you want to confirm the change has landed. If you are self-employed or file a Self Assessment return, update your details yourself: sign in to your Personal Tax Account on the Government Gateway, or call the same number with your deed poll to hand.
Changing your name with HMRC after marriage or divorce
The process is the same whatever the reason. If you married or formed a civil partnership and took your spouse's surname, HMRC accepts your marriage or civil partnership certificate as evidence instead of a deed poll. For any other change, including reverting to a maiden name after divorce, a double-barrelled surname, or a new first name, your deed poll is the document to use. The route, employed or self-employed, does not change.
Tax credits and Child Benefit
These are run by separate teams inside HMRC and do not update when your income tax record does. Tell each one separately. For Child Benefit, contact the Child Benefit office; for tax credits, report the change through your tax credits account or helpline. Updating your PAYE or Self Assessment record will not carry across to them.
What about National Insurance?
Your National Insurance number never changes, and the name on it sits in the same HMRC record as your tax details, so updating one updates the other. There is a separate step if you claim benefits through the DWP. Our guide on changing your name on National Insurance covers that side in full.
One last thing. Until your record is updated, your old name may still show on P60s, P11Ds and other correspondence. That is normal. Future documents come through in your new name once the change is made, and there is no need to reissue anything historical.