HMRC confirms closure of VAT helpline
The VAT registration helpline, which many businesses use to raise queries about whether they need to register for VAT, is to be closed at very short notice. Why is HMRC scrapping the service and when?
The VAT registration helpline will no longer operate from Monday 22 May. HMRC notified registered agents with just five days’ notice earlier this week. Initially, there was some confusion as the email stated that the closure date would be 22 May 2024. However, it has since transpired this was an error. Justifying the move, HMRC stated that 85% of the calls to the helpline are businesses or agents requesting updates regarding applications. HMRC feels that staff time would be far better spent on actually processing VAT registrations instead. This follows a temporary cessation of the service in early May, which allowed more than 4,000 additional items of post to be processed.
If you have submitted a registration, HMRC is asking that you use the “Where’s my reply?” tool to let you know approximately when to expect a response. However, HMRC also says that registrations can take up to 40 days. If you haven’t had your response in this window, contact HMRC using the dedicated email vrs.newregistrations@hmrc.gov.uk.
Related Topics
-
Planning ahead for pension salary sacrifice changes
From 6 April 2029, both employers and employees will be required to pay Class 1 NI on pension contributions in excess of £2,000 made through a salary sacrifice arrangement. What can you do about it?
-
Marginal relief - responding to an HMRC nudge letter
HMRC is running a campaign to clamp down on incorrect claims for corporation tax marginal relief (MR). In what circumstances might you be challenged by HMRC and how should you respond?
-
Can you claim input tax on costs linked to electric cars?
Your business intends to go green and buy new electric cars. Can you claim input tax on the purchase of the vehicles and their subsequent fuel costs? Additionally, what recent change has been announced by HMRC?
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.