Register Newsletter
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more about cookies on this website and how to delete cookies, see our Cookie Policy.
Decline Settings Accept
Analytics

Tools which collect anonymous data to enable us to see how visitors use our site and how it performs. We use this to improve our products, services and user experience.

Essential

Tools that enable essential services and functionality, including identity verification, service continuity and site security.

Where Taxpayers and Advisers Meet
HMRC launch special bereavement services
17/05/2012, by Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, Tax Articles - General
3117 views
0
Rate:
Rating: 0/5 from 0 people

HMRC have introduced extra support for people contacting them about PAYE and self-assessment liabilities following a bereavement, and have revised form R27 (used to finalise a deceased person’s tax affairs). 

Background

To encourage better co-operation between HMRC officials, tax professionals and tax charities, a joint working group known as the ‘Clasper Group’ or ‘Clasper Initiative’ was set up in late 2011. This followed a report by the House of Commons Treasury Committee which, among other things, recommended that

‘HMRC work closely with the professional bodies, tax charities and businesses to develop a series of performance indicators that credibly reflect customers' end-to-end experience of dealing with HMRC ...’

Clasper initiative proposal

One proposal from the first meeting of that group was that HMRC should look at the way in which bereavement cases were handled and design improvements with input from the agent community and tax charities.

LITRG has long taken a keen interest in how bereaved taxpayers are dealt with by HMRC. Along with Tax Help for Older People, the group researched and published a report entitled Bereavement and the tax system. The recommendations in that report included revising and simplifying the form R27, and setting up a working party with representatives from Government and the voluntary sector to consider proposals such as a bereavement helpline.
 
LITRG therefore welcomes the positive steps that have now been taken towards bringing about these first changes, and looks forward to working with HMRC on further improving the service offered to bereaved taxpayers.  

Details

The bereavement helpline is accessed via the general taxes number 0845 300 0627 (the Textphone number for those with impaired speech or hearing is 0845 302 1408). Callers will be able to select option buttons to speak to a bereavement tax adviser from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and from 8a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
 
The address for PAYE and SA matters relating to bereavement is:
HM Revenue & Customs, Pay As You Earn & Self Assessment, PO Box 4000, Cardiff, CF14 8HR
The new form R27 and accompanying notes are available on the HMRC website: R27 – Reclaiming tax or paying tax when someone dies. This helpfully provides the details of Tax Help for Older People as an independent contact for bereaved older people on low incomes.
 
Contemporaneously, HMRC and the tax professional bodies have published a joint statement about progress so far made by the Clasper Group. The joint statement can be found on the website of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).  

About The Author

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is an initiative of the Chartered Institute of Taxation to give a voice to those who cannot afford to pay for tax advice. LITRG comprises tax specialists from professional practice and the voluntary sector, from publishing and from HM Revenue & Customs, together with people from a welfare benefits and social policy background. Visit www.litrg.org.uk for further information.
Back to Tax Articles
Comments

Please register or log in to add comments.

There are not comments added