28th August 2020
Getting in touch with HMRC is a task that no HR and payroll professional looks forward to. Although the HMRC goal regarding wait times to connect phone calls is just five minutes, in actual fact people have been known to wait for more than an hour. As roles in HR and payroll are notoriously busy, most of these professionals do not have the luxury of time to be waiting on the phone. To help you avoid such time-wasting, we’ve put together this list of tips and tricks for contacting HMRC about tax
Contacting HMRC by Telephone
Should you need to contact HMRC about tax, and you require an answer or some assistance as soon as possible, phoning them is still your best option. To avoid a long connection time, make sure you’re calling the right department, and at the opportune time.
Monday to Friday, between 8am and 4pm, employers should contact HMRC about tax on:
0300 200 3200 (from within the UK)
Or
+44 151 268 0558 (from outside the UK)
According to research carried out by PfP tax insurers, the best time to phone is between 8.30 and 9.30am, or between 12noon and 12.30pm. Although you should still expect to be on hold at these times, it is thought that you will get through more quickly than during the rest of the day. According to the research, the worst time to call HMRC is between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
Contacting HMRC by Webchat
If your query is slightly less urgent, but you still require same-day assistance, HMRC also offers a webchat service. To use this service to talk to HMRC about PAYE and tax for employees, you will need your employer reference number or accounts office reference number.
It might take some time to get through to an adviser, but this is often a more convenient option because you can simply leave this window open on your computer while you get on with other tasks.
Click to access HMRC’s webchat service.
Contacting HMRC by Post
For those who have more general enquiries that do not need immediate attention, contacting HMRC about tax via post could be the preferred option. HMRC explain that this is one of the best ways for employers to get advice from them.
The address is:
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue & Customs
BX 9 1BX
UK
It’s recommended that proof of postage is obtained when contacting HMRC by post, particularly if your envelope contains important and/or sensitive information.
Contacting HMRC by Social Media
A less obvious, but often effective way, to contact HMRC about tax is to go through one of their social media channels. These are helpful not only for general contact but also for seeing regular alerts to changes regarding policies and deadlines.
HMRC’s Twitter
There are several Twitter accounts you can follow or contact, depending on what information you need:
- @HMRCcustomers – for general queries regarding HMRC services. This is available Monday – Saturday between 8am and 10pm and Sunday between 9am and 10pm.
- @HMRCBusiness – designed for offering information and advice about tax for those in business. This is available Monday – Saturday between 8am and 10pm and Sunday between 9am and 10pm.
HMRC’s Facebook
HMRC’s Facebook page is regularly updated with new advice and policy information designed to assist with tax queries. It is monitored Monday – Saturday between 8am and 10pm and Sunday between 9am and 10pm, so during these times, it can be used to interact with HMRC. Click facebook.com/HMRC to use this platform.
HMRC’s LinkedIn
As with Facebook, HMRC uses their LinkedIn account to publish useful news and updates regarding tax. This platform can also be used to contact HMRC about tax. See linkedin.com/organization-guest/company/hmrc.
HMRC’s YouTube
Those who prefer to absorb information through videos should take a look at HMRC’s YouTube channel. This is used to post a wide range of advice regarding tax, and the comments section can be used to interact with HMRC.
Contacting HMRC by Email
Unfortunately, HMRC does not advertise an email address that HR and payroll professionals can use for queries and general contact. Instead, they prefer you use another of the above options.
The use of this variety of methods should mean that you can contact HMRC in a timely manner when needed, whether it’s a time-sensitive query or you are looking for general advice. Another option worth considering is simply scouring HMRC’s website for the information you need. This provides information covering everything from informing HMRC about payrolling benefits in kind, to confirming employee tax codes. Otherwise, see our tax year calendar for information about information and deadlines for submissions to HMRC.
