Concerns have been raised over HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) decision to close its self-assessment telephone helpline over the summer. Small businesses and self-employed workers use the service with queries about their income tax returns.
HMRC wants to redeploy staff and advises people who are seeking assistance to use its chatbot as an alternative source of support.
The FSB, which represents small and medium-sized businesses, criticised the decision and said it will leave small business owners and the self-employed in the lurch, with only a few weeks left until the self-assessment filing deadline of 31 July.
The FSB’s national chair Martin McTague said: “Without support, many will spend extra time looking for answers instead of focusing on helping their businesses thrive. Perhaps the ‘Making Tax Digital’ campaign should be renamed ‘Making Tax Seasonal’, with a three-month tax break for small firms to match the helpline’s three-month summer break.”