HMRC helpline works on restructuring tax bills worth £440m

HM Revenue and Customs

HM Revenue & Customs’ brand new helpline has so far received almost 23,000 calls from businesses struggling to pay their tax bills.

Statistics released from HMRC yesterday (23 December)show that in the four weeks since the launch of the business payment support service there have been 22,700 calls with 10,000 new payment arrangements worth £168.8m in tax agreed over the phone.

A further 3,900 cases worth £271.1m have been referred for more ‘consideration’. A total of £440m in tax being restructured or reconsidered by HMRC.

Dave Hartnett, permanent secretary in charge of tax at HMRC, said: 'We are pleased that so many businesses in temporary difficulty are using this service and getting help tailored to their needs. We will offer this service for as long as it is needed. Businesses should get in touch with us soon as they will have difficulty paying their taxes and meeting other obligations because of this economic downturn.'

The new support service was launched at the end of November to help companies and businesses struggling with the downturn in trade and liquidity issues that might affect their ability to pay their tax.

The news came on the day the Tories accused HMRC of pushing businesses over the edge. The party’s economic spokesman Justine Greening said government was actually driving businesses ‘under’ through the pursuit of tax bills.

The Tories have proposed a scheme costed at £10bn allowing business to delay payment of VAT for up to six months.