HMRC services disrupted by strikes
You may experience difficulty or severe delays contacting HMRC’s helplines over the next few weeks, with several strikes planned. What are the scheduled dates, and how else might you resolve queries?
HMRC helplines are already under huge pressure. One of the most common complaints is the long wait times experienced, which can increase costs and eat into time that could be better spent elsewhere in your business. Unfortunately, the next three weeks are set to be significantly worse, as strike action will mean over 400 workers walk out in disputes over pay, job security and pensions. This is likely to affect you if you need to contact HMRC about self-assessment, PAYE, NI, or the construction industry scheme. The strike dates are:
- May – 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31
- June – 1, 2
Try to contact HMRC now if you have a genuinely urgent query. Remember that a lot of information can be obtained via your personal tax or business tax account. If you have an accountant or tax advisor, they may be able to help with any technical queries. Otherwise, HMRC has a number of other methods of contact that can help.
Related Topics
-
HMRC has withdrawn Form 652. How should you notify VAT errors going forward?
-
Can paying interest to your company save tax?
You recently borrowed a substantial sum of money from your company rather than take extra salary or dividends. Your bookkeeper says it might be more tax efficient if your company charged you interest. This sounds counter-intuitive but is it correct?
-
Reverse charge and end user rules: opportunity?
If you sell construction services to other builders, you need to consider the domestic reverse charge rules. You must apply these where your customer is an end user. How might this create a cash-flow advantage?