[duncan h]

I needed to ask tax office a question. Couldn't find any email contact. Number was 0300 so comes out of mobile free mins.
I was on hold for 40 mins and put the phone down. Why don't they set more staff on. Years ago, it was instant. Tax returns were basic. Why do they screw everything up

[dd]

Gone are the days when you used to be able simply to call your local tax office. Now everything is centralized and focused around cutting costs.

[cgh window cleaning]

There customers service is horrendous.
I have been trying to contact them for the last three days,every time I'm on hold for around 20mins before I hang up.

[duncan h]

I bet they soon get hold of you if they want money

[G Griffin]

Get yourself an accountant. Purple Rhino's is a belter.

[duncan h]

Get yourself an accountant. Purple Rhino's is a belter.

My last accounted got banged up for fraud. Had to re pay for 7 years accounts. Done my own after that. This is a new business, so doing my own again. Screw paying £300 to do very basic accounts. It isn't like we are builders or big company's

[Positivity]

HMRC is in total meltdown - absolute c**p. Being on hold for 40 mins and getting disconnected immediately is not uncommon and no human to talk to - you have the stupid machine that says "You can say anything you like" but doesn't understand anything and usually replies with "Sorry I didn't get that - did you say you want to import a car? or something equally irrelevant."
The first year of self-employment 2012 my wife's earnings were low so she was exempt from Class2 contributions. Offered to pay Class 3 to make up the shortfall £14 odd per week about £700 per year.
3 years later!!  She is still classed as exempt even though earning well over the threshold. They are still billing her for Class 3 contributions. Unable to pay Class2 which will affect her pension and she's got lost years anyway. Dozens of letters,  No response. Phone calls on the rare occasion you can get through waste of time - small fortune spent on the phone on hold . They are total Numpties!

[G Griffin]

Get yourself an accountant. Purple Rhino's is a belter.

My last accounted got banged up for fraud. Had to re pay for 7 years accounts. Done my own after that. This is a new business, so doing my own again. Screw paying £300 to do very basic accounts. It isn't like we are builders or big company's

It sounds like you had the same one as Rhino  .
And I don't blame you doing your own.

[duncan h]

I look at it like this.
I isn't going to be loads of things I can claim for EXTRA if I got an accountant.
I am small time. Could be other way round. I claim full amount for say mobile phone when only entitled to part.
Worst thing, I have to pay it back. Nothing lost.

At the end of the day. We are paying for someone (accountant) to do the tax mans job. They should provide an accountant, then they would know all is ok.
When I had a milk round, tax man paid a visit. He was good. Spotted 1 iffy receipt They don't miss anything. I was VAT registered then. Cant see them calling for a small man like me if they are so badly in the shi%