Does HMRC's Employer Helpline ever take a call?

Does HMRC's Employer Helpline ever take a call?

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I used the HMRC website over a month ago to register a new Employer. No references have come through.

I have been trying for over a week, at various different times, including evenings and weekends, to call them to find out what has happened and after some time negotiating the robot (and I swear if I hear one more time "did you know you can do x y z online" I will burst) I get told they are too busy and to call back later.

The first paydate was today, so what happens now seeing as I can't submit an RTI?!

Replies (14)

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By DMGbus
10th Apr 2015 18:47

30 days grace for first FPS

HMRC said (17 September 2014):

" We will not issue a penalty to a new PAYE scheme if their first FPS is received within 30 days of making the first payment to their employee(s). But after that, normal penalties rules will apply if there is a failure to file or file on time. "

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By cstwragby
10th Apr 2015 18:50

Thanks for that, I am going to try again first thing when they open.

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By airgeadagam
10th Apr 2015 19:19

Write

I've taken to writing to HMRC rather than telephoning. A letter takes 5 minutes whereas I've often been hanging on the phone for ages and on several occassions without success.

A stamp can be cheaper than telephoning too, if you don't have an inclusive call package.

It might be a bit slower but once the stamp's on and the letter's posted the ball's in their court.

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Replying to Wanderer:
By petersaxton
10th Apr 2015 23:49

Not bothered

airgeadagam wrote:

I've taken to writing to HMRC rather than telephoning. A letter takes 5 minutes whereas I've often been hanging on the phone for ages and on several occassions without success.

A stamp can be cheaper than telephoning too, if you don't have an inclusive call package.

It might be a bit slower but once the stamp's on and the letter's posted the ball's in their court.

When have HMRC bothered about that?

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By chewmac
11th Apr 2015 09:18

Same experience. Waiting 6 weeks and impossible to get through. Anyway, two of the three arrived yesterday. Helpful info from DMG though. Thanks

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By cstwragby
11th Apr 2015 09:45

The annoying thing is that references have come through for a scheme I set up AFTER. I feel even with writing I wouldn't get a reply in time going by HMRC's usual timescale for dealing with post.

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By petersaxton
11th Apr 2015 15:56

I setup three employers recently

They took less than two weeks to come through.

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By cstwragby
11th Apr 2015 19:33

Got through finally this morning so references given over the 'phone!

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Kieran Phelan
By KPEM online
12th Apr 2015 16:16

Similar experience
........although now waiting about 6 months on reference numbers coming through to client! Good fun (not)!

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By Randify
15th Apr 2015 14:19

Three days trying....

I have been trying to get through for the last three days for two new schemes set up online on 23rd February.  Still no references. It seems like there isn't even a queuing system It just says they are busy, please call back - good bye!  They are the weakest link!

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By petersaxton
15th Apr 2015 14:27

I think something may be wrong

I set up three new schemes about a month after you and I got the document for all the schemes by 04/04/15.

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By NYB
15th Apr 2015 14:54

Seems that this new pensions thing is causing trouble. Not anticipated of course by HMRC- they are incapable of forward planning. 50 minutes I held on the other day. Four years ago I had a letter published in Telegraph on seame subject. There has not be one jot of improvement.
We are all screaming for an agents dedicated line.

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By cstwragby
16th Apr 2015 14:42

Well today I received two references, one the same as I got over the phone on Saturday, the other no doubt for the one they couldn't trace on Saturday!!

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By philh74a
16th Apr 2015 14:49

Email

It beggars belief in this day and age that you can't simply send an email to HMRC.

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