Evanshaw Limited: HMRC-authorised tax agent specialising in state pension claims

Evanshaw Limited operates as an HMRC-authorised tax agent (HM Revenue & Customs) and focuses on recovering overpaid tax and reviewing potential state pension underpayments. The firm presents itself as specialising in identifying and correcting unclaimed entitlements, with the aim of ensuring clients receive the financial benefits to which they may be entitled.

Review of potential state pension underpayments

The company offers an eligibility checking service to detect whether a person's state pension has been calculated incorrectly. According to information on its website, more than 370,000 HMRC letters have been sent in identified underpayment cases, with average arrears paid of £8,377. The company warns that not everyone contacted is eligible and that outcomes vary depending on individual circumstances.

The service begins with a 60-second online form for a free eligibility check, under a "no win, no fee" arrangement. The company emphasises that the initial assessment does not confirm entitlement to a benefit and that further checks may be required.

Areas that may affect pension calculations

Evanshaw Limited identifies several circumstances that may give rise to an incorrect state pension:

National Insurance history: contributions, credits or errors in historical records may affect the pension.
Caring responsibilities and HRP: missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) or caring credits may leave gaps in a National Insurance record. HRP protected the pension records of some parents and carers between 1978 and 2010.
Marriage or civil partnership: under certain older rules, a married person or civil partner may be entitled to an increase based on their spouse's or partner's National Insurance record.
Bereavement: widows, widowers or surviving civil partners may inherit part of a deceased partner's state pension under the applicable rules.
Over 80: some people aged 80 or over who receive little or no basic state pension may qualify for an age-related payment or uplift.
Divorce: divorce, dissolution of a civil partnership or pension-sharing records may be relevant to certain entitlements.
Other errors: missing contributions or credits, incomplete employment records, incorrect personal details and administrative errors.

Four-step review process

The company's described method consists of four phases:

Initial assessment: the user answers questions about their National Insurance history, caring responsibilities, age and relationship history.

Circumstances reviewed: the answers are analysed to identify which entitlements or potential underpayments may be relevant.

Records considered: further checks may be needed to confirm whether credits, contributions or another entitlement have been missed.

Next steps explained: the client is informed of what may apply and what further information or action may be required.

Possible outcomes if an underpayment is confirmed

When an underpayment is confirmed, the outcome depends on the cause of the error, the dates involved and the applicable rules. Possible effects include:

Weekly increase in the state pension.
Payment of a backdated lump sum for arrears.
Correction of missing qualifying years or National Insurance credits.
Recognition of a spouse's, civil partner's or former partner's contribution record where the rules allow.
Review of other linked benefits.

The company insists that eligibility, increases, arrears and other outcomes depend on individual circumstances and are not guaranteed.

Client experience: Margaret's case

The website includes the testimonial of Margaret, an 80-year-old mother who discovered that she was missing years of Home Responsibilities Protection in her record after contacting Evanshaw Limited. She had cared for her children full-time during the 1980s and received child benefit, but her National Insurance record was incomplete. The team reviewed her case, identified missing qualifying years and processed her claim while keeping her informed. Margaret stated: "I had no idea I could be missing years of contributions. Evanshaw Limited made the process easy and straightforward; I would recommend everyone to give it a try." The company notes that this case reflects individual circumstances and that outcomes vary.

Frequently asked questions about state pension underpayments

The firm addresses various common questions on its website. Among them, it explains that underpayments can occur due to incomplete historical records, automatic increases not applied or rules relating to care, marriage, civil partnership, bereavement, divorce or age that were not applied correctly. It confirms that missing HRP can leave gaps in the record and reduce the pension. It also details that marriage or civil partnership may give rise to an increase depending on retirement dates and the applicable rules; that widows and widowers may inherit part of the pension; that there is an increase for those over 80 with little or no basic pension; and that divorce may affect certain entitlements, especially if there was a pension-sharing order. Other possible causes include missing contributions or credits, incomplete employment or self-employment records, incorrect personal details, historical administrative errors or older entitlements that have not been checked.

Contact and location

Evanshaw Limited is based at Suite 105 Highfield House, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle, England, SK8 3GY. The company operates in the United Kingdom and its activity is aimed at UK residents with potential state pension entitlements.

Suite 105 Highfield House, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle, England, SK8 3GY · Phone: 0161 241 1178 · Email: info@evanshaw.co.uk

About Evanshaw Limited