HMRC has created a dedicated bereavement service phone number and postal address to support families and representatives deal with tax issues
Bereaved customers or their representatives can call the new dedicated Bereavement Service to:
- report a death;
- settle all the deceased’s tax affairs up to the date of death, including income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) before they died;
- ask about informal administration period tax.
The helpline uses speech recognition software, so callers will be asked for the reason they are calling HMRC.
The new number will use voice response messages to direct callers to the appropriate advisers for PAYE, self-assessment or child benefit.
The helpline will be available 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and HMRC says it is less busy before 10am daily.
The bereavement service helpline number is 0300 322 9620 in the UK, and +44 300 322 9620 for callers from outside the UK.
HMRC said the new service ‘will ensure the customers reach the right team first time to discuss issues in a single call.
‘We will continue to route any customers that continue to use the existing numbers to bereavement advisers using the speech recognition platform.’
It is also very useful to use the gov.uk Tell Us Once service where a death can be reported to most government organisations in one go after the death is registered and the registrar issues a unique reference number to access the service. Tell Us Once is available in England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.
The HMRC postal address for help with PAYE, self assessment or National Insurance contributions after someone dies has also been updated to: Bereavement Services, HM Revenue & Customs, BX9 2BS.