Get help from HMRC if you need extra support (2024)

FAQs

Can HMRC help? ›

You can get extra support if your health condition or personal circ*mstances make it difficult when you contact HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). For example: you have dyslexia, autism or cognitive difficulties.

The 'Income Tax: general enquiries' helpline is 0300 200 3300. Dial 18001 0300 200 3300 to contact the 'Income Tax: general enquiries' helpline by text relay. HMRC also offers a textphone service for some of its helplines.

If you would like to use email as one of the ways HMRC will contact you, we'll need you to confirm in writing by post or email: that you understand and accept the risks of using email. that you're content for financial information to be sent by email. that attachments can be used.

Post. Write to HMRC at this address for all Income Tax queries except complaints. You do not need to include a street name, city name or PO box when writing to this address.

You'll usually have the option to contact HMRC through an online form, webchat, by phone or by post. You can get extra support if your health condition or personal circ*mstances make it difficult when you contact HMRC.

The process is as follows: Contact the HMRC helpline that you require – the main one is the Income Tax general enquiry line on 0300 200 3300.

+44 135 535 9022

You can also find out information in: the official HMRC app. your personal tax account or business tax account using HMRC online services.

If you receive any communication through WhatsApp claiming to be from HMRC it's a scam. Take a screenshot and forward it as an email.

HMRC have published a page with links and contact telephone numbers for those wishing to make a complaint about HMRC either online or over the phone. Making a complaint online is completed through an online form after signing in on the Government Gateway.

Can someone speak to HMRC on behalf? ›

Call HMRC on someone else's behalf

If the person you're helping cannot go online, you can call HMRC on their behalf and talk to them about any tax issue. You must be in the same room as the person you're helping. HMRC will confirm their identity and check that they're happy for you to represent them.

Is there a free phone number for HMRC? There are a limited number of freephone services for HMRC: Flooding tax relief 0800 904 7900. Reporting benefit fraud 0800 854 440.

Where HMRC has handled a case badly or if a dispute has failed, there is a complaints procedure which also provides for payment of compensation if a claimant has lost out financially, or suffered anxiety or distress, as a result of HMRC's error or delay.

HMRC has the right to check your affairs at any point to make sure you're paying the right amount of tax. If your business is selected, you'll receive an official HMRC investigation letter or phone call in which they'll tell you what they want to look at. This might include things like: the tax that you pay.

HMRC has a shared service to check bank account details are correct. Other government departments and local authorities could collect your bank details from you, then check them with our shared service.

You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you're getting certain benefits or tax credits. You do not need to apply. You'll be paid automatically. If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.

"Mondays were found to be the busiest days to call, with the lines tending to be very busy during both the morning and afternoon (an average call wait time of 20 minutes). "This duration increases after 4:00pm and goes up to 22 minutes. Some callers were even having to wait up to an hour for their call to be answered."

Can you walk into a HMRC office? ›

Can I Visit an HMRC Office? HMRC generally prefer that you visit their offices only with a prearranged appointment. Contact should be routed, in the first instance, through the telephone numbers we've provided. Their offices can also visit you at your own location, for those who need a face to face appointment.

You need to tell HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) that you're moving or retiring abroad to make sure you pay the right amount of tax.

Can HMRC chase me abroad with a Schedule 36? Yes, they can, although you have 30 days to appeal the notice once you receive it. Absolutely do not ignore it, because this will lead to further financial penalties. The best thing that you can do is to get advice from a professional tax accountant.

You do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to.

Complete the 'resident' section (form SA109) and send it by post. You cannot use HMRC 's online services to tell them you're leaving the UK.

There is no generally available facility to contact HMRC by email but it is possible to use structured or standard email, webchat and online forms for specific types of transactions and contact.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can take things you own, and sell them to pay your debt. This is called 'distraint' in Northern Ireland. You'll also be charged certain fees. Find out more about distraint on the the GOV.UK website, including what happens when HMRC visit and their enforcement action fees.

Please watch out for calls from people pretending to be from HMRC, which seem to be doing the rounds again! If you get a call, even if you don't fall for it, somebody more vulnerable might. You should complete HMRC's new form to report the incident, so HMRC can try and close down the scam.

Callers will only pay the same amount as a landline call to a 01 or a 02 number and the price is the same for calls from mobiles. 0300 numbers are generally included in any discount schemes or inclusive call minutes that claimants may already have with landline or mobile phone operators.

Who can I complain to about HMRC? ›

You can ask the Adjudicator's Office to review your complaint. HMRC will tell you how to do this. This service is free and independent of HMRC . You can only ask the Adjudicator's Office to look at your complaint if you've had a first and second tier review from HMRC.

A reasonable excuse is something that stopped you meeting a tax obligation that you took reasonable care to meet, for example: your partner or another close relative died shortly before the tax return or payment deadline. you had an unexpected stay in hospital that prevented you from dealing with your tax affairs.

Compensation. In some cases, the complainant may be out of pocket following HMRC's mistake or delay and in certain circ*mstances HMRC can offer financial redress. Financial redress can include: Reimbursem*nt for costs incurred, provided that they are proportionate.

You should tell HMRC that you are unhappy and wish to complain. If you write a letter, put 'complaint' on the envelope and at the top of the letter. If part or all of your complaint is due to discrimination, make that clear at the outset.

In normal cases, the HMRC tax investigation time limit is 4 years, in which they can go back to claim money from taxpayers. If someone has been visibly careless (submitting tax returns with mistakes), HMRC can journey back 6 years.

Phone lines are naturally busier, and wait times are longer on the run up to the tax deadline. The beginning of the year will always be a busy time for the HMRC phone lines because of the tax deadline, so next year, the earlier you can get your taxes in (and get any queries answered by HMRC), the better!

7% of tax investigations are selected at random so technically HMRC are right; everyone is at risk. In reality though most inspections occur when HMRC uncover something is wrong.

HMRC puts a lot of resources into combating tax avoidance and evasion and it is towards this key objective that it conducts a reported 300,000-plus investigations each year into Self Assessment tax returns.

The penalty is 5% of the original amount you owe HMRC - plus interest if you don't pay straight away. If you're self-employed and filled in a Self Assessment tax return to work out your income tax, you can check how much your penalty will be on GOV.UK.

What happens after an HMRC investigation? Once the investigation finishes, HMRC will write to you to explain the outcome. If HMRC finds something wrong on your returns but doesn't believe the errors were made fraudulently or negligently, you'll be told how to correct the return. You have 30 days to make the correction.

What HMRC really do? ›

We are the UK's tax, payments and customs authority, and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK's public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support. We do this by being impartial and increasingly effective and efficient in our administration.

Obviously, HMRC will look to investigate if there is evidence of fraud or criminal wrongdoing, but a range of innocent behaviours may also look suspect until they are properly explained. For example, perhaps you have high expenses compared to your income, or you are always late submitting your tax return.

It is a will trust created by a person's will and comes into effect on their death providing they only hold the estate assets for up to 2 years after the person's death. It is a trust for bereaved children under 18, or adults aged 18 to 25, set up under the will (or intestacy) of a deceased parent.

HMRC will investigate in detail and retrospectively based on the case and how serious it is. If they suspect deliberate tax evasion, they can investigate as far as 20 years. Investigations into careless tax returns can go back 6 years and investigations into innocent errors can go backup up to 4 years.

HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) usually contact you to arrange a visit. They normally give you 7 days' notice. They'll confirm what information they'll want to see, how long it's likely to take and if they want to inspect your premises.

The HMRC is the British equivalent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States. The HMRC ensures that the taxation system is implemented and adhered to in the most effective way possible. It oversees the efficient collection of taxes and the transfer of funds to the Treasury.

HMRC has a shared service to check bank account details are correct. Other government departments and local authorities could collect your bank details from you, then check them with our shared service.

What happens if you ignore HMRC? HMRC has broad powers to enforce their decisions and requests. These typically involve penalties and other financial sanctions against your company, but also potentially personal liability for you and other directors, and closure of your company.

HMRC only investigates criminal allegations of fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and other financial crimes. The decision whether to prosecute lies with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). HMRC will hand the findings of their investigation over to the CPS, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue charges.

Yes, they can, although you have 30 days to appeal the notice once you receive it. Absolutely do not ignore it, because this will lead to further financial penalties. The best thing that you can do is to get advice from a professional tax accountant.

Can HMRC track your phone? ›

Using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, HMRC can see web sites viewed by taxpayers; where a mobile phone call was made or received; and the date and time of emails, texts and phone calls.

Negotiating Time to Pay with HMRC

Should you find yourself unable to pay your taxes on time, HMRC may see fit to offer a Time to Pay arrangement. This agreement between a business and HMRC affords additional time to repay debts — usually across a 12 month period.

Direct recovery of debts

HMRC can take the money you owe directly from your bank or building society account. This is called 'direct recovery of debts'.