HMRC practical help for people affected by flooding

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have set up a special Helpline to provide help and advice for anyone affected by the recent floods. The Helpline is on 0845 3000 157 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. In a swift response to the recent floods, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms MP, has said that they want people to be able to concentrate on recovering from the recent events, so that a quick call to the HMRC helpline will give peace of mind, enabling customers to focus on restoring their homes and businesses.

Each call to the helpline will be handled on its own merits, but HMRC may be able to help by:

• agreeing a revised payment schedule when customers are unable to pay due to financial difficulties caused by the flooding;
  
• agreeing practical arrangements where individuals and businesses cannot comply with their tax obligations, perhaps because their records have been lost or destroyed in the flooding;
  
• reviewing any penalties or not imposing additional surcharges that may be triggered where customers have missed deadlines as a result of the flooding; and
  
• providing help and advice in dealing with other practical, tax-related matters arising as a result of the flooding.
  

The service is available for all HMRC taxes, including VAT, Corporation Tax and Income Tax and NICs (PAYE), and for individuals affected by the flooding.

Tax credit recipients are asked to continue to use the helpline number 0845 300 3900.
Businesses needing to discuss rescheduling payments as a result of the general economic situation rather than issues relating specifically to flooding should continue to contact the Business Payment Support Service on 0845 302 1435.

Technical Team