Covid-19: HMRC looking to deploy more staff to business helpline

Overwhelming demand from business means that HMRC is working on plans to deploy more staff to the business and self-employed coronavirus helpline to meet escalating demand for advice while at the same time it is dealing with the wider impact of covid-19 on its own staff

The freephone HMRC Coronavirus Helpline was set up less than two weeks ago and was first announced at Budget 2020 on Wednesday 11 March.

At the time, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs that up to 2,000 experienced HMRC call handlers would be assigned to support businesses and the self employed on issues relating to due or late payment of tax related to covid-19, including questions about self assessment, PAYE, VAT, corporation tax, and other duties and taxes.

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