Self-assessment helpline to close for summer months

For three months from 12 June to 4 September HMRC will trial directing self-assessment queries from the helpline to its digital services including its online guidance digital assistant and webchat.

According to HMRC this will ‘free up 350 advisers to take urgent calls on other lines and answer customer correspondence’ thus ensuring more taxpayers who really need to speak to an adviser can do so.

Angela MacDonald deputy chief executive officer and second permanent secretary at HMRC said: ‘We continually review our services to see how they can best serve the public and we are taking steps to improve them. A seasonal SA helpline will make more of our expert advisers available where they are most needed during the summer months.’

The closure underlines HMRC’s lack of resources said Adam Harper director of professional standards and policy at the Association of Accounting Technicians....