From 4 May, the current basic service will be expanded to include other routine queries which could be answered online, and taxpayers calling about these will be given the option to either receive a link to the online service or remain on the phone.

HMRC receives over three milion calls a month so at the moment only a small percentage of people are opting for the digital route despite all callers being told about online options.

Callers to HMRC helplines with certain queries have been receiving SMS messages with links to digital services since January to save them waiting on hold. In the first two months, SMS messages were sent to 180,000 people.