HMRC launches helpline for COVID-19 and time to pay
Updated 26 March 2020: A dedicated HMRC helpline for businesses and self-employed individuals who have difficulty with paying their tax due to COVID-19 has gone live.
This page was updated on 26 March to reflect the new helpline number.
The HMRC helpline, which was promised by Rishi Sunak in his Spring Budget is now in operation on: 0800 024 1222.
It can assist with:
setting up a time to pay arrangement,
suspending debt collection proceedings, and
cancelling late payment penalties and (unusually) interest.
2,000 experienced HMRC staff are available on the helpline, but it is unclear whether this is additional resource or a deployment.
The Tax Faculty would welcome feedback on the effectiveness of this service. Please contact caroline.miskin@icaew.com.