New phone service from HMRC for accountants

Accountants will be better able to help their small business clients deal with taxation problems, after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed that it was launching a new telephone service.

The local Agent Dedicated Telephone Line (ADL) will mean that a small business accountant can easily contact HMRC to discuss any difficult and complex issues.

Should the issue prove too complex to be immediately answered over the phone, the query can be passed on to a specialist within HMRC.

Brian Redford, head of HMRC's agents and employers service improvement programme, explained that some accountants "have told us that they needed telephone lines that offered them a unique service that catered for their needs".

He added: "These dedicated numbers will help us improve the service we offer. We have already had positive feedback from people who have used the lines elsewhere in the country.

"The dedicated lines are part of the work of the Agents and Employers Service Improvement Programme which aims to ensure that accountants see a real difference in their interaction with HMRC".

The new ADL can be used by accountants from Wales and Berkshire.

Recently, HMRC also revamped its web pages for accountants.