HMRC have announced a single helpline number for people and businesses affected by this week's riots in English cities, and have offered to help taxpayers who have lost records or miss deadlines.
‘The dedicated Civil Disorder helpline is available to provide comprehensive advice and deal sympathetically with problems currently faced by businesses and individuals,’ HMRC said.
‘In particular, HMRC will agree payment schedules with those who are unable to pay their tax bills due to short-term financial difficulties; and discuss practical solutions where businesses and individuals cannot meet their other obligations to HMRC – for instance, their records have been lost or destroyed in the disturbances.
‘In these circumstances, and whenever possible, HMRC will review any penalties imposed and withhold additional surcharges that would normally be triggered by missed deadlines.’
HMRC added: ‘In short, if you want to talk about how the disorder has affected you in relation to the tax system (including tax credits), please contact HMRC – we are here to help. There are a range of existing reliefs available and HMRC’s trained advisors will be happy to help.’
The helpline, on 0845 366 1207, will be available seven days a week from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.
Callers are asked to have their taxpayer reference number – the Unique Taxpayer Reference for self assessment customers or the VAT number for VAT registered businesses – to hand.
An HMRC spokesman told Tax Journal that no HMRC offices were closed during this week's disturbances. A few enquiry centres closed a little earlier than normal on Tuesday, but it was now ‘business as usual’.
HMRC have announced a single helpline number for people and businesses affected by this week's riots in English cities, and have offered to help taxpayers who have lost records or miss deadlines.
‘The dedicated Civil Disorder helpline is available to provide comprehensive advice and deal sympathetically with problems currently faced by businesses and individuals,’ HMRC said.
‘In particular, HMRC will agree payment schedules with those who are unable to pay their tax bills due to short-term financial difficulties; and discuss practical solutions where businesses and individuals cannot meet their other obligations to HMRC – for instance, their records have been lost or destroyed in the disturbances.
‘In these circumstances, and whenever possible, HMRC will review any penalties imposed and withhold additional surcharges that would normally be triggered by missed deadlines.’
HMRC added: ‘In short, if you want to talk about how the disorder has affected you in relation to the tax system (including tax credits), please contact HMRC – we are here to help. There are a range of existing reliefs available and HMRC’s trained advisors will be happy to help.’
The helpline, on 0845 366 1207, will be available seven days a week from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.
Callers are asked to have their taxpayer reference number – the Unique Taxpayer Reference for self assessment customers or the VAT number for VAT registered businesses – to hand.
An HMRC spokesman told Tax Journal that no HMRC offices were closed during this week's disturbances. A few enquiry centres closed a little earlier than normal on Tuesday, but it was now ‘business as usual’.
