There are a variety of different ways to contact HMRC – by phone, email, post, and even by webchat.
The best ways to contact them though remain by phone and by post because HMRC’s agents can go into a level of details with you which is not possible when using the relatively insecure email and webchat route.
In our list below, we share 15 ways to contact HMRC by phone and by post.
How do I speak to a real person at HMRC?
You can call HMRC direct Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday, 8am to 4pm. They currently offer no service on Sundays or on Bank Holidays.
To speak to a real person at HMRC, please use the following numbers:
Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings helpline – 0300 200 3510
Callers outside the UK should call +44 1726 209 042. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.
To write to HMRC about ATED, send your letter to Stamp Taxes, HMRC, BX9 1HD. For technical queries, the address is HM Revenue and Customs – BAI Stamp Taxes, 9th Floor City Centre House, 30 Union Street, Birmingham, B2 4AR. To make payment, send to HM Revenue and Customs, Bradford, BD98 1YY.
Capital Gains Tax helpline – 0300 200 3300 (textphone 0300 200 3319)
Callers outside the UK should call +44 135 535 9022. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
To write to HMRC about Capital Gains Tax, send your letter to Capital Gains Tax Queries, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AS. To send payment, send to HMRC, Direct, BX5 5BD
Child benefits helpline – 0300 200 3100
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 161 210 3086. To write to HMRC about child benefits, send your letter to HM Revenue and Customs – Child Benefit Office, PO Box 1, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE88 1AA
Construction Industry Scheme helpline – 0300 200 3210
Callers outside the UK should call +44 161 930 8706. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
To write to HMRC about the Construction Industry Scheme, send your letter to PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1BX
Corporation Tax helpline – 0300 200 3410
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 151 268 0571.
To write to HMRC about Corporation Tax, include your UTR and send your letter to Corporation Tax Services, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AX
Income tax for the self-employed helpline – 0300 200 3300 (textphone 0300 200 3319)
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 135 535 9022.
To write to HMRC about income tax if you’re self-employed, send your letter to HM Revenue and Customs – Self Assessment, PO Box 4000, Cardiff, CF14 8HR
Income tax helpline – 0300 200 3300
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 135 535 9022.
You’ll need to have your National Insurance number ready when you call. This number is for help with income tax and Class 4 National Insurance, tax overpayments and underpayments, P800 tax calculations, when you’re having problems trying to register for a personal online tax account, you are making a backdated claim for Marriage Allowance, on the death of your spouse or civil partner, or to apply for Marriage Allowance if you don’t have an National Insurance number.
To write to HMRC about income tax if you’re self-employed, send your letter to HM Revenue and Customs – Self Assessment, PO Box 4000, Cardiff, CF14 8HR
Inheritance tax helpline – 0300 123 1072
Callers outside the UK should call +44 300 123 1072.
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. To write to HMRC about IHT, send your letter to Inheritance Tax, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1HT
National Insurance for Employees helpline – 0300 200 3500 (textphone 0300 200 3519)
Callers outside the UK should call + 44 191 203 7010.
To write to HMRC about National Insurance for employees, send your letter to PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AN
National Insurance for the self-employed helpline – 0300 200 3500 (RelayUK – dial 18001 then 0300 200 3100)
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call + 44 191 203 7010.
To write to HMRC about National Insurance for employees, send your letter to PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AN
Self Assessment helpline – 0300 200 3310 (textphone 0300 200 3319)
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 161 931 9070.
To write to HMRC about Self Assessment tax returns, include your UTR and send your letter to Self Assessment, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AS
For personalised guidance and a smoother process in dealing with your Self-assessment tax returns, consider consulting with an experienced self-assessment accountant.
Tax credits helpline – 0345 300 3900
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 2890 538 192.
To write to HMRC about tax credits, send your letter to Tax Credit Office, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1LR for renewal forms of HM Revenue and Customs, Tax Credit Office, BX9 1ER to complain or to report a change in circ*mstances.
Tax for employers helpline – 0300 200 3200 (fax 03000 523 030)
Callers outside the UK should call +44 151 268 0558. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
To write to HMRC about tax for employers, send your letter to PT Operations North East England, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1BX
VAT helpline – 0300 200 3700
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Callers outside the UK should call +44 2920 501 261.
To write to HMRC about VAT, send your letter to Corporation Tax Services, HM Revenue and Customs – VAT Written Enquiries, 123 St Vincent Street, Glasgow City, Glasgow, G2 5EA
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
- Reporting customs, excise & VAT fraud 0800 595 000
- Report tax evasion 0800 788 887
Most HMRC numbers are 0300 numbers which are charged at standard geographic number rates.
Can you live chat with HMRC?
Yes. HMRC offer a webchat service open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday, 8am to 4pm. It’s closed on Sundays and on Bank Holidays.
Currently, you can only use HMRC’s webchat service for child benefit, tax credit, VAT, self assessment, and pay-as-you-earn. The webchat service is not secure and therefore you should not divulge any personal or financial information specific to you using the service.
Likewise, if someone from HMRC calls you up, you should not divulge any personal or financial information.
Coronavirus (COVID 19) & Brexit help
For Coronavirus (COVID 19) & Brexit issues, there are separate contact numbers.
For COVID-19 issues, call 0800 024 1222 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm) for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-employment Income Support Scheme matters.
For Brexit issues, call 0300 322 9434 (textphone 0300 200 3719) (Monday to Friday: 8am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 4pm) for help with importing, exporting, and customs relief.
Checklist before you call HMRC
There can sometimes be long delays when waiting to get through to an HMRC agent.
The times during which the queues are the smallest are between 8.30am & 9.30am and between 12.00pm and 12.30pm. The busiest time seems to be between 4.30pm and 5.00pm.
Make sure you have all the information you need to hand when you dial, for example your Unique Tax Reference number and the reference codes on any correspondence you’re engaged in with HMRC. It’s also really helpful when you know exactly what you want before you call as this will help the agent go through all the processes they need to go through so that they can help you.
Speak with Black And White Accounting
Did you know that, when you appoint an Accountant, you can nominate them as your “tax agent”. What that means is that they can get in touch with HMRC on your behalf and that they can handle all of your queries. This can make your life a LOT easier.
To appoint Black & White Accounting as your tax agent, please get in touch with us today by contacting Black and White Chartered Certified Accountants, populating the “Got a Question” form on the right, or calling us on 0800 140 464. We look forward to hearing from you.
