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Money Box: HMRC Helpline Closure and Insurance Costs

17/06/2023

HMRC Helpline Closure and Insurance Costs

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, HMRC Helpline Closure and Insurance Costs

HMRC on why it has closed its self-assessment tax helpline until September.

We speak to HMRC about why it has decided to close its self-assessment tax helpline over the summer.

On June 12th, HMRC closed its self assessment tax helpline - a helpline that last summer people tried to call over a million times. Instead, it's directing people who want advice or who need help with their online self assessments to its digital services.  HMRC says this is a pilot for a new seasonal model and that it will reopen in September.  It says the plan will free up staff time to deal with urgent queries.  The decision has prompted criticism from tax groups who say that the closure is  extremely disappointing, that it's ill thought out and that its a clear indication that HMRC can't cope with demand.  Angela McDonald the Deputy CEO and Second Permanent Secretary at HMRC speaks to Felicity Hannah live.

MPs have questioned insurances bosses over high premiums. The Treasury Committee called executives in to answer questions about potential profiteering during the cost of living crisis.  Dan Whitworth reports on that hearing.

More on plans to make sure banks give innocent victims of push payment fraud the refunds that they are supposed to.

And what do you need to think about when it comes to money and travel abroad?  From currency to travel and health insurance, not to mention mobile phone roaming charges, there are lots of ways to make sure you're not losing out or paying over the odds. 

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researchers: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner
Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 17th June, 2023)

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