HMRC plans to cut enquiry centre hours

Date: 16th June 2010

Small business owners and other taxpayers could be encouraged to seek the help of a specialist accountant following the news that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reducing its availability for help.

The Low Income Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has said that HMRC is planning to cut the opening hours at 117 of its 280 tax enquiry centres across the UK.

It follows cuts already made in 58 of the centres, which mean help is now available from some on one or two days of the week.

According to the LITRG, the moves mean taxpayers are now facing the "slow death of the enquiry centre".

Robin Williamson, the organisation's technical director, said: "HMRC seem to believe that the reduction in footfall at enquiry centres is the consequence of a decline in demand for face to face services.

"However our response, supported by voluntary sector experience, shows the converse - that demand for face to face services remains high, but the inaccessibility and frequently poor quality of the service now provided by enquiry centres has caused that demand to flow instead to the voluntary sector."

Posted by Jacob Williams