Agent help line is not for agents!

Agent help line is not for agents!

Didn't find your answer?

I contacted HMRC Agent dedicated line the other day to change my tax code as HMRC had randomly changed it.  I'm a chartered accountant running my own practice.  I have also registered as my own agent.  The lady on the phone got really stroppy with me when she realised it for my own tax affairs.  She said I should have rung the normal help line as I'm not allowed to use the agent line for my own affairs.  Even after I explained that I was calling on behalf of my company as an agent!  Should I ask an employee to do it next time?

Has anyone else experienced this?  And what are your thoughts?  

Replies (23)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By cparker87
10th Aug 2015 13:53

I've done it. I'll continue to do it. It's my company calling on behalf of me; my company files my tax return. I just happen to be the director too. 

Just ignore them and carry on. 

Thanks (4)
Time for change
By Time for change
10th Aug 2015 13:53

You'd imagine it was possibly

the ONLY perk of the job!

Can't see a problem myself.

Thanks (3)
By stratty
10th Aug 2015 13:55

64-8

You should probably file a 64-8 giving yourself access to your own records but against your agent details.

Thanks (0)
Replying to John Stokdyk:
RW
By RichardWelbourne
10th Aug 2015 14:02

I am my own agent also

stratty wrote:

You should probably file a 64-8 giving yourself access to your own records but against your agent details.

Hi Stratty,  I have.  That's why I was angry enough to post the question on here.  I could understand if I wasn't phoning as the registered agent.

She was good enough to talk to me 'on this occasion only' but I wasn't to use the phone line in future... um, ok... ;o)

Thanks (1)
By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
10th Aug 2015 15:08

.

I have done this several times, I think its quite fun to read out your name as agent and client, especially if you work from a home address.

 I tend to say something silly about myself in the third person, such as "One of my longest standing clients you know"  so the light bulb goes on in the operator's head.  

Had a couple play along and say something like "you should tell your client that..."

I think Richard's operator must been having a bad day. 

 

 

Thanks (2)
Replying to LucyLoop:
RW
By RichardWelbourne
10th Aug 2015 15:23

I'm so doing that next time...

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Briar
10th Aug 2015 16:01

Ask to speak with the supervisor

It's happened to me. I explained that my firm (even better if the firm is a company/partnership) acts for me. When the HMRC member of staff got stroppy, I demanded to speak with the supervisor who saw the position my way (I will use the long-standing client comment next time!) 

You could lie and say that you are acting for your son/daughter who has the same name and address as you (they don't know the NINO or date of birth of the agent!)

Thanks (0)
avatar
By HeavyMetalMike
10th Aug 2015 16:37

Same thing happened to me several years ago. HMRC got stroppy.

But I had had the foresight to add me as a client so that I could call HMRC as an agent but for "me" the client. HMRC got stroppy but shouldn't have because I was client of Mike Ltd.

You, Richard, - I think - didn't? So were trying to pull a cheeky one and for which HMRC were right.

Thanks (0)
Replying to SXGuy:
By mwngiol
10th Aug 2015 16:45

Agent

HeavyMetalMike wrote:

Same thing happened to me several years ago. HMRC got stroppy.

But I had had the foresight to add me as a client so that I could call HMRC as an agent but for "me" the client. HMRC got stroppy but shouldn't have because I was client of Mike Ltd.

You, Richard, - I think - didn't? So were trying to pull a cheeky one and for which HMRC were right.

It's stated in the OP as well as in a subsequent post that Richard had registered as agent for Richard. So no cheekiness and HMRC were wrong.

Thanks (5)
avatar
By HeavyMetalMike
10th Aug 2015 16:49

I apologise. Been a busy weekend.

I interpreted "registered as my own agent" as registering as an agent.

Yes, HMRC were wrong. As they were with me.

I apologise!!

Thanks (4)
avatar
By andrew55
10th Aug 2015 17:41

I did this years ago

I tried this years ago and was told then in no uncertain terms that the line was for me to discuss clients and no having a 64-8 for myself didn't count.

Thanks (0)
None
By FCExtraordinaire
10th Aug 2015 17:58

Argue

I'm happy to argue with them over this point,  I too ,phone up the agent's helpline for my own tax and have been told I should be phoning the normal helpline.    To which I say  "I can never get an answer.."

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Mr_awol
11th Aug 2015 09:11

They are being unhelpful, and I cant see the problem as you are down on the HMRC system as one of your own clients.  I'm not sticking up for them as such............

However, technically, the are probably right.  Can you really, in law, act as your own agent?  I suspect not, particularly for sole traders and partnerships.

In addition to that, you probably aren't even a proper client.  You have a 64-8 in place but presumably no letter of engagement, have never charged yourself, etc.

Thanks (0)
RLI
By lionofludesch
11th Aug 2015 10:21

Cut Off

Tell them that they took so long to answer on the plebs version that you assumed that their landline service had been cut off for non-payment of bills.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By David C Moore
11th Aug 2015 11:40

Happen to me

This has only happen once to me, since the dedicated line was introduced. Argued with the operator who then put the phone down on me. Rang back straight the way, that person dealt with me. I am a ltd company and director. Asked for the operators name who answered my last call, got it and wrote in to complain, more about the rudeness than the technical issue here, call back some 2 months later where they did agree with me that I can ring the agents line. I did use the argument that the director can be a client and that I was requesting information as the company representative and not as the taxpayer, they agreed but said it was a matter of interpretation. Suggest you use any name as representative, just like I use shot USA presidents for my mothers maiden name as a security question. If you can give all the company details and agent's HMRC code, who can disagree your not ringing from the company.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Ebutler
17th Aug 2015 11:57

Me, too, however I file my return in my married name and practice in my maiden name. So long as I don't slip into the first person I have no problem, but if the operator guesses, I have a similar conversation to those reported above.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By mewsans
17th Aug 2015 12:54

Do it all the time

I have never had a problem calling HMRC as agent for myself. If HMRC got stroppy with me about it, make no mistake,  I would get VERY stroppy with them!!

Thanks (0)
Replying to DJKL:
avatar
By Mr_awol
18th Aug 2015 12:53

No good getting stroppy

mewsans wrote:

I have never had a problem calling HMRC as agent for myself. If HMRC got stroppy with me about it, make no mistake,  I would get VERY stroppy with them!!

On what basis?

Lots of us use the agent helpline, none of us think it should be an issue but, if we take a step back, the revenue might well be correct.

How is throwing your toys going to help?  Once you've fumed "don't you know who I am?" and the HMRC employee has managed to stifle their laughter, what are you going to do to 'make' them access your account?

Thanks (0)
Replying to Rebecca Cave:
avatar
By mewsans
18th Aug 2015 15:12

Getting stroppy

 On the basis that my firm (which is independent of me as a tax paying individual) has been appointed my me as my tax agent. Simple !

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Flustered
17th Aug 2015 14:59

Me too

I have a 64-8 in for me. I have to call them every year because i want my two piddly pensions taxed @ BR & they always recode to give part of my P.A'.s against them. I tack my request re me onto a genuine enquiry about another client and always precede it with "it is a bit cheeky I know, but I do have a 64-8 in for me"...and I have never had a problem...

Now if there was a system were my codes could STAY on BR I would not need to call them in the first place.......... 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Mr_awol
18th Aug 2015 15:20

Which takes me back to my earlier musing - unless you operate via a Limited Company, can you actually (legally) be your own agent?  Dunno.......

 

I any case, ranting is more likely to get the call terminated than suddenly force them t be helpful.  The best bet would probably be the old 'call back and speak to someone different' trick.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By frankdavid
18th Aug 2015 15:21

Me too

Had this happen to me,, ringing in on the public line is dreadful, thank heavens we dont all have to use the public line

 

BUT why is there no dedicated line for agents when ringing HMRC about PAYE / CIS refunds., i waited 13 minutes last week to be told that someone would call me back at an unspecified time within 5 working days. Not dared to leave my desk for lunch or a call of nature in case I miss the call

Thanks (0)
7om
By Tom 7000
19th Aug 2015 13:04

if they are stroppy

call back and get a nice one I do it all the time

doubnle checking opinions ;)

Thanks (1)