Contacting HMRC by telephone – updated
HMRC have further revised their guidance for those who are ‘Contacting the HM Revenue & Customs Income Tax Office by phone or in writing’.
The guidance sets out in a simple table the information HMRC will allow individuals and their agents to supply by telephone. Forexample, HMRC will accept notifications for gift aid and pension plan payments up to a maximum of £5,000 over the telephone for 2008/9 and all subsequent tax years. Any other notifications relating to gift aid and pension plans such as where the amounts exceed £5,000 or for carry back relief must be made in writing.
Staff at HMRC contact centres will require anyone who calls them to pass certain identity checks and that an agent is properly authorised. HMRC will refuse to discuss tax affairs over the telephone with persons who are unable to satisfy HMRC’s identity checks.