Campaigners pan tax helpline cuts
Low Incomes Tax Reform Group concerned about plans to reduce the number of hours helpines operate
A pressure groups campaigning on behalf of low income families have
criticised plans to cut the operational hours of tax helplines.
The move will disadvantage poorer families, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
said.
If HM Revenue and Customs plans are pushed through, contact centres which
field tax support calls on Sundays will be closed. The proposals also include
reducing the number of hours lines operate on Saturdays, bank holidays and
during the week for some services.
LITRG said taxpayers on low incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional
tax help needed to be able to contact the taxman directly because they worked
long hours during the week. The weekend could be the only opportunity they had
to address financial matters.
LITRG chairman John Andrews said:”Taking away access to HMRC helplines at
these times will make the task considerably harder.
“This is a backward step for an organisation that is supposed to be customer
focused.
“We all understand that there is pressure across government to reduce costs.
But HMRC have failed to fully assess the impact of these changes.”