Contacting HMRC for help with company tax problems
HMRC has a number of helplines and other contact channels open to directors who are having issues with their tax obligations. Knowing who to call and when can help you get an answer to your problem much sooner.
60 Second Test Find Your Nearest Office
HMRC payment helplines: VAT, corporation tax, payroll
HMRC rules and regulations can seem complicated and confusing, and this can often lead to sole traders, business owners and company directors making mistakes that could cost them dearly in the future. However HMRC has a number of ways that it tries to offer help to people so that they don’t end up falling foul of the system. It provides online help on it’s website in the form of guides, videos and webinars, and you can also get personalised assistance via either phone, post, online forms or through live web chats.
There are also a number of phone help lines that you can use to get advice from HMRC, especially if you need to pay your HMRC VAT bill, pay your HMRC corporation tax bill, or pay your HMRC payroll bill such as PAYE or NI collected from your employees.
HMRC VAT Helpline
General Enquiries
If you have any general enquiries about VAT, HMRC operate a dedicated VAT advice service.
- Phone: 0300 200 3700 (from outside the UK: +44 2920 501 261)
Lines are open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday - Webchat: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/vat-enquiries
- Online Enquiry: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/VATGenEnq?dept-name=&sub-dept-name=&location=47
- Post: HM Revenue and Customs - VAT Written Enquiries Team
Alexander House
21 Victoria Avenue
Southend-On-Sea
SS99 1BD
United Kingdom
Received a Bounce Back Loan?
Don't Worry - There are thousands of other company directors going through the same process. No matter what position you are in and need looking for options, speak to a member of the Real Business Rescue team. It's Free & Confidential.
The team are available now -0800 644 6080
How to pay your VAT
If you want to pay your VAT bill then this can be done via any of the below methods, but please note that you cannot pay directly over the phone. To pay your VAT bill you can either:
- Pay online, via telephone banking or BACS using the following account details, you will need your 9-digit VAT registration number:
-Sort Code: 08 32 00 - Pay online, via telephone banking or BACS using the following account details, you will need your 9-digit VAT registration number:
- Sort Code: 08 32 00
- Account Number: 11963155
- Account Name: HMRC VAT
- Pay via the CHAPS system, using the account details above.
- Pay via online via a debit card or corporate credit card – note that you cannot pay using a personal credit card
- Set up a Direct Debit to automatically collect VAT payments from your bank account 3 days after your VAT payment deadline. You can set this up using your VAT online account or using form VAT 623.
- Directly at your bank or building society. You will need to order paying-in slips either online or via phone from HMRC at least 6 weeks before you need to pay the money in. You will need your 9 digit VAT registration number.
- By Standing Order if you use the Annual Accounting Scheme or make VAT payments on account. You must apply to HMRC for permission to do this, once this is received you will need to set up your standing order either online or via telephone banking into the account details mentioned above, or use form VAT 622.
HMRC Corporation Tax Helpline
General Enquiries
If you have any general enquiries about Corporation Tax, HMRC operate a dedicated Corporation Tax advice service. You will need to quote your 10-digit Unique Tax Reference when you call/write.
- Phone: 0300 200 3410 (from outside the UK: +44 151 268 0571)
Lines are open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday
- Post: Corporation Tax Services
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1AX
United Kingdom
How to pay your Corporation Tax
If your taxable profits are more than £1.5 million then you must pay your Corporation Tax in instalments. If your total taxable profits are under £1.5 million then you must pay your Corporation Tax bill 9 months and 1 day after the end of your accounting period. In this case then you can pay your Corporation Tax bill via any of the below methods, but please note that you cannot pay directly over the phone.
To pay your Corporation Tax bill you can either:
- Pay online, via telephone banking or BACS using the following account details for the office from which you received your Corporation Tax payslip, you will need your 17-character Corporation Tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying:
- Account Name: HMRC Cumbernauld
- Sort Code: 083210
- Account Number: 12001039
- Account Name: HMRC Shipley
- Sort Code: 083210
- Account Number: 12001020
To pay from an overseas account you should use the following details:
- Account Name: HMRC Cumbernauld
- Account Number: (IBAN): GB62BARC20114770297690
- Bank Identifier Code: (BIC): BARCGB22
- Account Name: HMRC Shipley
- Account Number: (IBAN): GB03BARC20114783977692
- Bank Identifier Code: (BIC): BARCGB22
- Pay via the CHAPS system, using the account details above to either the Cumbernauld office or the Shipley office.
- Pay online via a debit card or corporate credit card – note that you cannot pay using a personal credit card; you will need your 17-character Corporation Tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying.
- Pay online via a debit card or corporate credit card – note that you cannot pay using a personal credit card; you will need your 17-character Corporation Tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying.
- Directly at your bank or building society. You will need the payslip that HMRC sent you. Make cheques payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ followed by your 17-character Corporation Tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying.
Inform HMRC that you don’t owe any Corporation Tax
If you do not owe any Corporation Tax for the current period then you must inform HMRC or they will continue to send you payment reminders. You can either:
- Complete the ‘Nil to Pay’ form - you will need the 17 character reference on the Corporation Tax payslip that you received.
- Return the Corporation Tax payslip that you received to HMRC marked ‘NIL due’.
HMRC Payroll Helpline
General Enquiries
If you are an employer and have any general enquiries about Payroll, HMRC operate a dedicated Payroll advice service.
- Phone: 0300 200 3200 (from outside the UK: +44 151 268 0558)
Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturdays - Webchat: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/employer-enquiries
- Post: National Insurance Contributions and Employers Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1BX
United Kingdom - Online Form: HMRC provide structured email forms for
General enquiries for new employers
There is also a dedicated service for new employers:
- Phone: 0300 200 3211
Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm on Saturdays - Post: National Insurance Contributions and Employers Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1BX
United Kingdom
Need to speak to someone?
If your company is struggling with unmanageable debts, squeezed cash flow, or an uncertain future, you are far from alone. We speak to company directors just like you every single day, and we are here to give you the help and advice you need.
Call our team today on 0800 644 6080
Make PAYE or NI payments
If you are an employer and wish to make your PAYE or National Insurance payments, you can either:
- Online: You can apply to make a single payment via CHAPS for multiple PAYE schemes (called multiple or composite payments)
- Post: HMRC
Direct
BX5 5BD
United Kingdom
HMRC also operates a dedicated helpline for general advice about how to pay your employees’ PAYE or to order payslip booklets. Please note that you cannot make payments via this phone line.
- Phone: 0300 200 3401 (from outside the UK: +44 15 0647 6066)
HMRC Call Waiting Times
HMRC deals with 45 million individuals and more than 5.4 million businesses and each year it receives more than 50 million phone calls and 12 million letters and the news is often full of stories about the incredibly long waiting times for HMRC phone lines and postal replies. However HMRC have recently invested in significantly higher levels of staff to try and deal with enquiries more efficiently.
The individual contact pages generally include information about the best times to call those specific lines, but in general a recent study found that waiting times were shortest between 8.30am-9.30am and between 12noon-12.30pm, whereas they were longest between 4.30pm-5.00pm.
HMRC have also published figures showing the contact and response figures for January 2018:
- Phone Calls
- 4,762,727 calls were received
- Calls were answered in an average of 4 minutes 20 seconds
- 14% of calls had to wait more than 10 minutes to be answered
- A total of 86.5% of calls were handled
- Post
- 1,265,827 items of post were received
- 5% of post was handled within 15 days
- 9% of post was handled within 40 days
- Online Forms
- 110,379 i-forms were submitted
- 2% were responded to within 7 days
If you are struggling to pay your VAT, corporation tax, payroll or any other HMRC bill then contact Real Business Rescue today. Our business recovery and turnaround experts have nearly 30 years’ experience working with companies that are experiencing financial difficulties, taking the time to understand your situation before offering practical advice about how to move forward.
Contact the RBR Team Today
FAQs
How do I call HMRC from abroad? ›
- Telephone: 0300 200 3310.
- Textphone: 0300 200 3319.
- Outside UK: +44 161 931 9070.
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.
What is HMRC VAT? ›VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax added to most products and services sold by VAT -registered businesses. Businesses have to register for VAT if their VAT taxable turnover is more than £85,000. They can also choose to register if their turnover is less than £85,000. This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
How do I make a payment to HMRC? ›- through your online bank account.
- online or telephone banking (Faster Payments)
- CHAPS.
- by debit or corporate credit card online.
- at your bank or building society.
...
When you call
- 'change my address'
- 'question about my tax code'
- 'question about taxable expenses'
- Telephone: 0300 200 3701.
- Textphone: 0300 200 3719.
- Outside UK: +44 2920 501 261.
"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 I contact HMRC by email? ›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.
Is it free to call HMRC? ›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.
Why do I pay VAT to HMRC? ›As explained below, the law requires UK traders with sales (turnover) above the VAT threshold to register for VAT and charge it on supplies of goods or services. The trader charges the VAT and then pays it over to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the government's tax-collecting authority.
What is VAT in payment? ›
Overview. Value-Added Tax (VAT) is a tax, which is payable on sales of goods or services within the territory of the Member States of the EU. The tax, in all cases, is ultimately payable by the final consumer of the good or service.
What is difference between VAT and tax? ›The main difference between a VAT and a sales tax is that a sales tax is only paid once: at the initial point of sale. This means only the retail customer pays the sales tax. The VAT is instead collected multiple times during the production of a finished product.
Can I call HMRC to make a payment? ›Call HMRC for general advice on how to pay Self Assessment. You'll need your Self Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when you call. You cannot make payments using this phone number.
How do I set up a payment plan with HMRC for VAT? ›If you are struggling to pay your tax bill(s), HMRC has a dedicated phone line to agree payment plans for taxes. Here's what you need to know: The number you need to call is 0300 200 3835. The line is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Can I send a letter to HMRC online? ›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.
Why do HMRC take so long to answer? ›There are some queries that HMRC is legally required to respond to within 30 days. Others have no legislative timelines to respond by and typically this is where most of the delays are occurring.
Why is it so hard to contact HMRC? ›Why, accountants ask, is it so hard to get through to the right person at HMRC? In December, an investigation by Which? found that nearly a third of calls to HMRC's helplines were cut off because the system was too busy. For those who did get through, the wait was as long as 41 minutes.
Can I call HMRC on WhatsApp? ›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.
Is there VAT on telephone? ›VAT cannot be claimed on private expenses. It is not our policy to apply the Supply of Services Order in the case of mobile phones. In principle there might be an output tax charge because of private use by the employee. However, because such private use is incidental to the business use, no such charge will arise.
Who can I talk to about VAT? ›Ask HMRC Online
Ask HMRC's digital assistant to get a quick answer to your query about VAT. If the digital assistant cannot help you, you can ask to transfer to an HMRC adviser if they're available.
Can I pay corporation tax over the phone? ›
You can pay HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) by Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs. Your 'notice to deliver your tax return' or any reminder from HMRC , will tell you which account to pay into. If you're not sure, use HMRC Cumbernauld.
How long should I wait for a reply from HMRC? ›| HMRC service line | HMRC target performance |
|---|---|
| Repayment of tax from employment or pension (online claim) | Reply within 15 days of being sent |
| Refund from an online SA return | Reply within 15 days of being sent |
| Tax credits overpayment dispute | Reply within 15 days of being sent |
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.
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.
Are HMRC 0300 numbers free? ›They're Not Free – 0300 numbers cost money to call and that's the entire point. Often helplines such as the LGBT+ switchboard are volunteer-led yet founders of such organisations strive to be able to give back to the workers in some form of payment or benefit.
How do I avoid paying VAT? ›You can stay under the VAT threshold by splitting your business, working fewer days, or not taking big one-off payments. If you go temporarily over the VAT threshold you may be able to apply for an exception.
What happens if you don't pay HMRC VAT? ›If HMRC do not receive your VAT return by the deadline, or if you fail to make full payment of the VAT due, you will be automatically issued with a default on your account and you may then enter what is known as a 'surcharge period'.
Who usually pays VAT? ›A value-added tax (VAT) is paid at every stage of a product's production from the sale of the raw materials to its final purchase by a consumer. Each assessment is used to reimburse the previous buyer in the chain. So, the tax is ultimately paid by the consumer.
What is VAT tax in USA? ›Is there VAT in the U.S.? There is no VAT in the United States. But even though the United States doesn't have a value-added tax, it does require consumers to pay federal excise taxes on the purchase of gasoline, alcohol, tobacco and other products. In addition, several states and cities collect sales taxes.
Is there VAT in USA? ›Please note that the U.S does not have a national VAT or GST. The U.S does, however, have a Sales Tax that varies from state to state.
What are the 3 types of VAT? ›
There are three categories of supplies that can be made by a VAT vendor: standard-rated, zero-rated and exempt supplies.
How does VAT work in simple terms? ›VAT stands for Value Added Tax and is a general tax placed on almost all goods and services sold. The simple principle behind VAT is consumers pay a tax on the products they buy based on the product's value. VAT rates are percentage based, which means the greater the price, the more the consumer pays.
What is VAT tax in simple words? ›VAT, short for value-added tax is a common form of indirect tax levied on services and goods. It is paid to the government by the producers at every stage in the supply chain. VAT tax is applicable only on goods sold within a particular state, which means that the buyer and the seller need to be in the same state.
Is VAT just a UK thing? ›VAT is levied on most goods and services provided by registered businesses in the UK and some goods and services imported from outside the UK. The default VAT rate is the standard rate, 20% since 4 January 2011.
What is the quickest way to pay HMRC? ›Payments by Faster Payments (online or telephone banking) usually reach HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays. CHAPS payments usually reach HMRC the same working day if you pay within your bank's processing times. Bacs payments usually take 3 working days.
Is 03002003884 a HMRC number? ›ISO27001, ISO 22301 and ISO 9001… Today I got was called from this number 0300 200 3884 and was asked for by name. They stated they were from HMRC or rather “HM Revenue and Customs” and wanted to take me through some security questions.
Will HMRC accept a payment plan? ›If you cannot pay your tax bill in full, you may be able to set up a payment plan to pay it in instalments. This is called a 'Time to Pay' arrangement. You will not be able to set up a payment plan if HMRC does not think you will keep up with the repayments.
Can you set up a HMRC payment plan online? ›Go to your HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) online account and set up a Direct Debit. Choose the Budget Payment Plan option and follow the instructions to set up your plan.
What happens if I don't pay VAT on time? ›31 days or more overdue. You will receive a first penalty calculated at 2% on the VAT you owe at day 15 plus 2% on the VAT you owe at day 30. You will receive a second penalty calculated at a daily rate of 4% per year for the duration of the outstanding balance.
How long do HMRC letters take? ›First class letters are delivered one day after they're dispatched. Second class letters are delivered 2 days after they're dispatched. Letters are printed at 5:30pm and dispatched the next working day (Monday to Friday).
Do I need to contact HMRC when I move abroad? ›
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.
How to login to HMRC without UK passport? ›...
Second, select how you want to verify your identity:
- passport.
- employment slip.
- P60.
WhatsApp messages
HMRC will never use 'WhatsApp' to contact customers about a tax refund. If you receive any communication through 'WhatsApp' saying it's from HMRC, it is a scam. Email details of the message to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk then delete it.
HMRC WhatsApp scams
HMRC will never use WhatsApp to contact customers about a tax refund. If you receive any such communication, report it immediately by emailing HMRC, then delete it.
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.
How long do you have to be out of the country to not pay tax UK? ›You're usually non-resident if either: you spent fewer than 16 days in the UK (or 46 days if you have not been a UK resident for the 3 previous tax years) you worked abroad full-time (averaging at least 35 hours a week), and spent fewer than 91 days in the UK, of which no more than 30 were spent working.
Do you have to pay VAT on services if you live outside the UK? ›Services you supply outside the UK
If you're supplying services to non-business customers outside the UK, you may not need to pay UK VAT. These are mainly intangible services that include advertising, intellectual property rights, legal services and accountancy.
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 circumstances make it difficult when you contact HMRC.
How do I email HMRC? ›ncts.helpdesk@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk new computerised transit system(NCTS) helpdesk.
How do I contact HMRC about my passport? ›- General enquiries. HM Passport Office. PO Box 767. SOUTHPORT. ...
- Passports. Contact: Passports. Passport advice. 0300 222 0000. ...
- Birth, marriage and death certificates. Contact: Birth, marriage and death certificates. General Register Office. 0300 123 1837. ...
- Press enquiries. For journalists only. 020 7035 3535.
Why is it so hard to get through to HMRC? ›
Contacting HMRC: call times increasing
Kevin Sefton, CEO at Untied, said: “The beginning of the year will always be a busy time for the HMRC phone lines because millions of people wait until the deadline to file their taxes and then find they need assistance.
The calls in questions have come from a mobile number. They have involved an automated message explaining that there is a problem with your HMRC account and directing you to press 1 to speak to HMRC for more details. This is not a genuine HMRC call.
How do I know if HMRC call is real? ›HMRC may contact you by email, letter or phone call about setting up a session with your school. To check that this contact is genuine you should call 03000 557 755 (find out about call charges).
Does HMRC message you? ›Self Assessment returns and payment reminders
HMRC may send text messages to customers to: remind them to submit their self assessment returns. make payments, where due, before 31 January 2023.