HMRC services disrupted by strikes
You may experience difficulty or severe delays contacting HMRC’s helplines over the next few weeks, with several strikes planned. What are the scheduled dates, and how else might you resolve queries?
HMRC helplines are already under huge pressure. One of the most common complaints is the long wait times experienced, which can increase costs and eat into time that could be better spent elsewhere in your business. Unfortunately, the next three weeks are set to be significantly worse, as strike action will mean over 400 workers walk out in disputes over pay, job security and pensions. This is likely to affect you if you need to contact HMRC about self-assessment, PAYE, NI, or the construction industry scheme. The strike dates are:
- May – 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31
- June – 1, 2
Try to contact HMRC now if you have a genuinely urgent query. Remember that a lot of information can be obtained via your personal tax or business tax account. If you have an accountant or tax advisor, they may be able to help with any technical queries. Otherwise, HMRC has a number of other methods of contact that can help.
Related Topics
-
HMRC reminds employers to check tax codes at start of new tax year
HMRC is reminding employers to review PAYE coding notices as the 2026/27 tax year gets underway. With new tax codes now in operation, what should you be looking out for?
-
Salary v dividends in 2026/27
Dividend tax rates have increased by 2% for 2026/27. Add that on to the other recent tax hikes and it starts to look very expensive to run a company. Is the combination of a low salary topped up with dividends still tax efficient?
-
Practical guide: Incorporating a property business
An individual with a significant property portfolio is considering incorporating their business. What are the key considerations and are there any traps to avoid or tax planning opportunities?

This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.