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
-
Don’t overlook the partial exemption annual adjustment
As VAT year ends approach for many businesses, HMRC’s guidance highlights the need to carry out the partial exemption annual adjustment. This is often overlooked but can have a direct impact on recoverable VAT. What do you need to check?
-
MONTHLY FOCUS: USING YOUR COMPANY TO DIVERT INCOME TO FAMILY MEMBERS
Operating a business through a limited company is less tax-efficient than it used to be. However, it can still be a very useful way of diverting income to other family members. In this Monthly Focus, we look at the methods, and associated considerations, involved in doing this.
-
HMRC updates guidance on information notices
HMRC has updated its Compliance Handbook guidance on the use of information notices, with changes made on 18 March 2026. The revisions clarify how HMRC should request information during enquiries and place greater emphasis on proportionality. What does this mean in practice?
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.