HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) initially announced plans to permanently close its self-assessment helpline for six months each year, from April 8th to September 30th, aiming to encourage taxpayers to use online services. This decision followed criticism from MPs regarding HMRC's customer service levels. However, after widespread backlash and concerns about the impact on taxpayers, particularly the elderly, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt intervened, ordering HMRC to halt its plans. Consequently, HMRC reversed its decision, ensuring the helpline remains open throughout the year. This move was confirmed in a letter from Jim Harra to the Commons Treasury Committee Chair, @hbaldwin, highlighting further engagement on the matter.
HMRC has announced its tax helpline will only be open for half the year, perfect for anyone looking to only pay half their tax https://t.co/9vp1t1gNTH
Hunt intervenes to stop HMRC closing helplines over summer Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/TWnIXqL5ui
HMRC halts plan to close tax helpline for six months a year https://t.co/BwF652zMyR
Jeremy Hunt has told HM Revenue & Customs to scrap plans to close its helpline over the summer amid concerns about the impact on taxpayers ⬇️ https://t.co/DPHcjCL8Ku
Jeremy Hunt orders UK tax agency to reverse plan to cut number of helplines https://t.co/KqXR56PjDJ
🔴 MP for Ealing North @jamesmurray_ldn is asking an urgent question: "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a statement on the Government’s decision to close the HMRC Self-Assessment helpline every year between April & September." Watch live ⬇️ https://t.co/MZcx5mnaAN
🔴 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have scrapped plans to close its phone lines over the summer after Jeremy Hunt intervened Find out more👇 https://t.co/hbPzUMBfbo https://t.co/mnJ1djsXSf
HMRC reverses decision to close telephone helpline https://t.co/Hb1hKosumT
Jeremy Hunt orders HMRC to keep phone lines open https://t.co/LkztFiV08U
HMRC reverses decision to close self-assessment phone helpline between April and September, after criticism https://t.co/Tvh0NaUuZV
HMRC humiliatingly DROPS plans to shut phone helpline for the summer after backlash at 'sick joke' - with MPs saying 'common sense has prevailed' https://t.co/trKJJjKzDe https://t.co/jO28n64tCr
HMRC U-turn: Helpline services to remain open this summer after order from Jeremy Hunt https://t.co/lW73DEOo1X #HMRC #tax
📞 HMRC have walked back from their announcement to close phone lines over the summer. In a letter to @CommonsTreasury chair @hbaldwin Jim Harra confirms the changes will be halted while further engagement takes place. https://t.co/Jvdk2oSkNY
🔴 Jeremy Hunt orders HMRC to keep phone lines open https://t.co/gvVd92SnIR
Pensioners ask if HMRC phone line summer shutdown is some kind of 'sick joke' amid fears millions will be left high and dry https://t.co/7BvnjZW3Ul https://t.co/a2Rzn4D5P9
How to beat HMRC's wall of silence and speak to a human! The experts' tips on breaking through as phone lines shut over the summer https://t.co/HLzgDFFXcg https://t.co/hwCOkQsqLL
HMRC will close tax helpline for half the year https://t.co/ks7OmsmoBP
HMRC closing tax helpline for half the year - what you need to know Read more https://t.co/1lK57Nhxxb
'From April 8th to Sept 30th taxpayers can't phone the tax office for help with their tax return.' @christopherhope gives details about HMRC closing the self-assessment tax return phone line. 🔓 Become a GB News Member: https://t.co/mNsRsGC8ef https://t.co/ZoujpujTMK
HMRC to close its self-assessment helpline for six months a year https://t.co/2WZ2Qb8L99
HM Revenue and Customs has drawn criticism after announcing permanent changes which include closing the self-assessment helpline for some of the year. HMRC said that changes to helpline services to encourage people to go online first have been successfully trialled over the https://t.co/rLNhWnjyCI
HMRC to close tax helpline, forcing customers struggling with tax returns to use online chatbot https://t.co/uITboShjpU
HMRC to permanently close tax return phone lines over the summer #HMRC #taxreturns https://t.co/MIdX05ZAtp
HMRC to close tax helpline for six months a year from April; jobs at risk as Ted Baker ‘prepares to appoint administrators’ – business live https://t.co/93t0geLZNL
☎️ HMRC to permanently close phone lines over summer https://t.co/xmSayqyx2P
☎️ HMRC is introducing an annual summer break on its phone lines in a bid to push customers online. It comes weeks after an influential group of MPs said HMRC’s customer service had hit an “all-time low”. More here ⬇️ https://t.co/ubZvzzYUG9 https://t.co/r8FpKBHtHE
🔺 NEW: HM Revenue & Customs will permanently close its self-assessment helpline for half the year, leaving some taxpayers unable to speak to the tax authority on the phone ⬇️ https://t.co/OPEbHBtMZK
HMRC to close phone lines every summer https://t.co/bbBQB0FVoZ