cdfergus

Hi all: I have spoken to HMRC numerous times. I w as s born in 1951, and prior to sometime in the 70's you had to request a number. These days it is given at 16yrs. I never applied so I never got one. Never worked in UK either before coming to the US. Therefore, I can't get one till I am living there!!!!
😩

Grahamu

For my own interest, I tried completing the online form a few times with different answers and saving the generated output as PDF files.

Although I do have an NI number from before we moved overseas, on one of the tests I did answer that I DIDN'T have one. The rest of the application process just carried on no problem.

My gut feel is that you do have an NI number they will probably look up your 'history' as a part of the approval process, if you don't then, obviously, they wont be able to look up any history.

Just my thoughts.

cdfergus

Well, they have been trying to locate for 3 weeks now and still can't find it. So I shall just answer no as you said.
Thanks

FlyingScotchMan

Hello folks,

Some further tips on obtaining a TOR number:

When emailing [email protected] the limit of attachments per email is 6mb. You will likely have to split up your application into separate emails or compress the files.

This email won't give you any notification wether your application has been received/approved/ actually the entire system is terrible, however there is a help line number (03000588454).

Be prepared to wait in queue for up to an hour or call first thing in the morning. Once you have someone on the phone, ensure they deal with your application there and then, they tried to transfer me to other depts but I refused and eventually was seen to.

I was advised that the system is backlogged over 4 weeks at present so apply well before you need to move and prepare for frustrations along the way.

Happy moving.

ChrisH1957

If you send application by email, it has a limit of 10meg, useless for all the attachments required and we have not heard anything back in 2 months.

All other methods of contact seem as useless.

furnival2050

Just to clarify the email size has to be under 6MB as I was send 8MB emails and they were getting returned undeliverable... Fianlly had to use a PDF compressor!

Robbie2010

Or you can just stick it all in an envelope and post it!

furnival2050

Just got off of the phone with HMRC (1am Saskatchewan Time) and they said that they currently have a turn around time of 21 days! Just thought that I would let you all know...

TSO

The email address above is for the Customer Services Department within TSO (The Stationery Office), a publisher mainly for the public sector. Unfortunately we cannot help with TOR requests. Gov.uk provides help and guidance on TOR forms, for further information please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-...-the-uk-and-eu.
Many thanks
TSO Customer Services

ksporry

I realise this is a bit late in the discussion, but I was hoping to further the TOR discussion if possible.

Have people noticed a recent improvement in handling the application? I send mine last week, and didn't find out until just now by reading this forum, that there is a 6MB limit for applications. Since my previous application last week was 12MB I guess it's safe to say it didn't arrive, so I resubmitted it. I did send them a follow up email last week asking for confirmation without a response.

Unfortunately my service providers are less than proactive in telling me what i need for the application so the application got delayed with a month or so. I'm going to need the URN this month as my shipper needs it not only to ship my possessions but also ship my 2 cats. I guess I could live with a delay in shipping my possessions, but I find it inhumane if my cats need to be quarantined just because the TOR is missing (they meet the import regulations for cats. I made sure of that.).

As a bit of a rant, wouldn't it be nice if they set up a system that was actually electronic, instead of partly electronic and partly manual through email? And if not, wouldn't it be helpful if any emails send actually got a confirmation send that it was accepted/rejected? It'd hugely reduce their own overhead of reapplications.

I did some browsing, and I found 2 telephone numbers they allegedly should be reachable on (I didn't find these on the HMRC website):
National Clearance Hub Helpline (for general enquiries on applications): 0300 058 8454
National Advice Service (for ‘’Duty & Tax’’ enquiries): 0300 200 3700.

I'll be calling both to see what the situation is and if they could expedite this for me a bit.

kirstyp

They do seem to be much quicker now than when it first launched, but definitely call if you're concerned - just be prepared to wait on hold as we have experienced quite long hold queues.

Good luck!

p.s. definitely agree a fully electronic process would be a huge improvement, hopefully we'll see that as a future development now it's been running a little while and they've had a chance to see opportunities for improving!

durham_lad

I was with my son when he sent in his ToR electronically in September and it was obvious that it was too large as he had an immediate failure message. He resubmitted it without the very detailed shipping list that his shipper had provided, and included a note that he had a detailed shipping list available to send to them if needed.

He got approval the next morning.

He had called them early in the process with questions about employment and proof of address and told me that they were very helpful on the phone.

alohavic

We sent our inventory, along with the form and a note stating that we didn't yet have an address but giving the name and address of my husbands new employer.
It was emailed before we went to bed on 30th Nov and ehe URN was in our inbox when we woke up the next morning!

ksporry

So my experience was a bit strange.
So last Friday (1-Dec) I submitted it again but this time under 6MB (I somehow managed to reduce it to about 4MB). I also emailed them for a confirmation request.
Monday (4-Dec) I hadn't heard from them (mind you, it was still sunday night in the UK). So come 08:00 UK I call them and lo and behold, they weren't only open, they answered the phone immediately! The recording didn't even have time to play...!
They asked if my name was in the subject of the email (no, because they don't provide instructions), but found my application. They stated they just processed up to the 29th (I guess you were lucky alohavic!), and told me it might take a week. Then they warned me "BUT, it IS possible that is earlier!!" (as if that's a bad thing...).
So last night before going to bed, I got a response to my confirmation on Friday that they had NOT received my application (what gives....??).
Then upon waking up this morning I found they had approved my request and provided me the URN.
So much for left hand versus right hand...
I guess that means they do process them much faster now. Imagine when they automate the process...

I guess the conclusion is:
6MB limits, put your name in the subject, and call the next day.

pquick

I read somewhere that costs were needed on this TOR and very detailed lists of clothing ornaments etc!,, is this the case?. We are returning to uk hopefully this year but have not started the process