The government is helping businesses through the current situation by allowing you to defer tax payments.

Here’s what you need to know and what you need to do:

1. If you have a VAT payment due before 30th June 2020, you can defer payment of this until 5th April 2021 without contacting HMRC.
2. For all other taxes, HMRC has a dedicated phone line to agree payment plans for taxes:

• The number you need to call is 0800 015 9559
• A Director or Owner of the business has to call to discuss payment with HMRC
• This line is open from 8am to 8pm and the best times to call is first thing in the morning (before all businesses open at 9am) or after 5pm
• You will need to explain why your business has been affected by COVID-19 and therefore why you need to delay payment of your taxes, e.g cancelled contracts, travel plans or staff absences due to self-isolation
• Only call in the week before the tax payment is due
• Please make sure that all of your tax filings are up to date

The information to have handy when calling HMRC:

• Company registration number
• Company address
• Company telephone number
• Company Unique Tax Reference – if discussing Corporation Tax
• PAYE and accounts office reference numbers – if discussing PAYE
• VAT registration number and the figure from box 5 of your latest VAT return filed (it needs to be filed) – if discussing VAT

A few practical points:

• PAYE payments will initially only be delayed for a month