Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
Jul 30th 2018, 4:26 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 40
Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
I recently received a letter from HMRC saying I haven't paid enough tax. They are wrong, since I live in the USA. This has happened a couple of times over the last 10 years. But this time, there's no return address to write and correct their mistake. Instead I was directed to open a 'personal-tax-account', and deal with the issue by web chat. All well and good, but I've tried 3 times and got a message that the service isn't available. Also tried phoning, but after some lengthy palaver about setting up a voice recognition login, I was summarily disconnected since 'no agents are available'. And this was all during normal UK business hours.
Have I just been unlucky, or have others been having problems contacting HMRC?
Have I just been unlucky, or have others been having problems contacting HMRC?
Jul 30th 2018, 4:38 pm
#2
Gloves off
Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
Hi Peter, I have been in contact with HMRC several times recently, apart from hanging on the 'phone for a few minutes, no problems.
To contact HMRC from outside UK:
+44 135 535 9022Opening times:
Good luck!
To contact HMRC from outside UK:
+44 135 535 9022
Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday: 8am to 4pm
Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Good luck!
Jul 30th 2018, 5:16 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,660
Re: Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
Are you sure you are not being 'scammed'. Never heard of HRMC directing someone to open a personal tax account and deal with issue via web chat.
Jul 30th 2018, 5:23 pm
#4
Wondering if...
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Clarence, NY
Posts: 1,214
Re: Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
I have found them to be very helpful, if somewhat slow. I set up a 'Government Gateway' account which allows you to deal with the tax folks, pension folks, NI folks, etc.
If worried it is a scam, start at www.gov.uk and you'll be fine.
If worried it is a scam, start at www.gov.uk and you'll be fine.
Jul 30th 2018, 5:55 pm
#5
Gloves off
Joined: May 2016
Location: Antwerpen/Anvers
Posts: 7,269
Re: Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
I have found them to be very helpful, if somewhat slow. I set up a 'Government Gateway' account which allows you to deal with the tax folks, pension folks, NI folks, etc.
If worried it is a scam, start at www.gov.uk and you'll be fine.
If worried it is a scam, start at www.gov.uk and you'll be fine.
Agreed, they are very helpful these days, poles apart from the dim dark days of yore.
*** EDIT *** Sorry, my bad it's not the 'front door', it's the Income tax number...
https://www.gov.uk/government/organi...-and-employees
Last edited by BuckinghamshireBoy; Jul 30th 2018 at 6:02 pm.
Jul 31st 2018, 5:34 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 40
Re: Contacting HM Revenue and Customs
Thanks for all the responses. I phoned again this morning and was able to get through to a person quite quickly. Issue was fixed, so I'm happy. This was more like my previous good experiences in dealing with HMRC. (Although web-chat still came up with 'no-one available'.)
The personal account setup comes as part of the gov.uk site. I'm pretty sure it's not a scam. It is apparently a beta trial, so maybe that's why I didn't get any joy with web chat. Once the bugs have been dealt with, I think it will be a good feature.
The personal account setup comes as part of the gov.uk site. I'm pretty sure it's not a scam. It is apparently a beta trial, so maybe that's why I didn't get any joy with web chat. Once the bugs have been dealt with, I think it will be a good feature.
