Hmrc Arvostelua 

The HMRC computer made a change to my Tax Code and sent an updated code to my pension provider which was incorrect causing me to be placed on basic rate tax. For the last 5 months i have made endless calls to HMRC each time being assured it has now been rectified. Still hasn't been sorted. Complaint lodged, no response. Several hours on the webchat and told to make a further complaint. I'm sure if I owed 5 months worth of money it would have been sorted by now.

It's a miricle if anyone answers there phones. Staff have no customer service or people skills. Beware if you are a employee on PAYE. If your company doesn't pay the due deductions these vultures will come knocking your door and you will end up paying for someone elses incompetence.

Received a tax demand May 2025 which I paid in November 2025 and this cheque was cashed within a few days of me sending, in April 2026 I received a letter stating they needed proof of payment, I was astonished to learn that they don't keep track of cheques they are cashing so called HMRC, I was told the cheque had been cashed which I already knew and the excuse given was the cheque and correspondence I sent with it had been separated, someone had picked up the letter approx 4 months later and then without checking they demanded that I prove I'd paid! I can only hope the HMRC are better than this but it makes me question if they have my records up to date.

So I was fined for late payment of a tax return which is fair enough. However, I receive all my information by mail as it's easier to keep records. They decided to send the letter notifying me of the fine 3 months later so interest could accrue. Apparently this is perfectly fine in their eyes and entirely legal.
I then attempted to call them to ask if the interest could be waived as I was not informed about it until early April.
The robot that they make you talk to barely understands what you are saying and if you try to contact them about a fine inquiry they hang up on you automatically.
The first sentence the robot repeats tells you to literally "hang up" and go on their website. This isn't bad service, it's an absolute lack of it.
It's everything wrong with the hole of a country.

HMRC are a fairly poor organisation, in my experience. If I was a billionaire and could hire an accountant, I'm sure I would be delighted with them letting me off paying any taxes at all. Sadly, I am a struggling retiree with not much in the way of income, so, naturally, it's very important for them to tax my already Actuarily Reduced Teachers Pension (£440 per month) at 20% and turn it into £350 per month instead. I accepted that and took it on the chin but then came the fact that I had to go onto Self Assessment because I receive part of my income as a gift from a former family member who could pull the plug on that payment any time. Coincidentally, that is £440 per month as well. Not a King's Ransom!
That isn't the problem either : the problem is that I can't get onto the online site to fill in my tax form because I don't have the required 12 digit number. When I call them to get it I am told they cannot give it out over the phone. Presumably, I have to get online (which I cannot do because I don't have the 12 digits code) in order to get the 12 digit code. What an absolute farce! So, why don't I ask them to send me a paper copy by post? Been there, done that, and still no paper copy. I used to be a Teacher, and I'm sorry to say that HMRC have totally failed the test. **Updated on 11th May 2026** I have now received the SA form through the post, so I've decided to amend my assessment. I found the form to be inadequate for the task. I was able to put my State Pension, as there was a space for that, but the two halves of actuarily reduced Ts Pension + another tiny private pension had to be lumped together. It just seemed like a mess

Tried to submit my self assessment return on line. Have had 2 gateway numbers issued and when submitted they did not recognise either ! ! So I will continue to submit paper returns. Don't know why I am surprised at HMRC being incompetent. A chartered accountant friend submitted a capital gains return for me for the sale of a rental property. It took him over an hour as I watched him navigate the HMRC minefield.Good job their employees are paid by the taxpayer and defended by their unions.

Appalling Telephone System

What is the point of a telephone system that arbitrarily decides it has resolved you issue and hangs up on you forcing you to restart the entire process over and over again to just get a simple issue resolved.

It is appalling, for goodness sake - would it really break the bank to make it easier to speak to a real person or at least add a "Has this resolved your issue" prompt before ending the call!

Tried to report a problem with opening the P60's to complete my year end . Got connected eventually both times but got cut off both times and despite giving my number no-one called me back

Spoke with Areya and then Tahir today. Both did their best to be helpful and were friendly and eventually my reason for calling was resolved but the system did not help them. I never look forward to calling HMRC

My experience of contacting HMRC at approximately 3pm on 14/4/2026 was nothing short of unbelievable. After waiting an hour, I explained that i have received 2 letters from HMRC over the last month confirming they had 1) received and 2) updated the records relating to my power of attorney. I was told there was " nothing on the system" and I therefore could not pass security and they could not talk to me and would have to terminate the call. Despite my quoting the reference numbers on the letters I was again told it made no difference, there was nothing on the system and I could not pass security. When I asked to speak to someone else I was cut off. The incompetence was astonishing and it is difficult to think of any positive suggestion as to how this department can improve.

What a complete waste of time. Was spoken to in a disgusting and disgraceful way by several hmrc staff. Tried to tell them it was a business debt - that nobody had significant control over - so was not my debt. I complained to hmrc who apparently could not trace the call etc, even though I gave all details. The response was the usual hmrc cover up. This organisation is rotten from top to bottom and when you complain it’s completely ignored- well I will be ignoring them from now on - especially any bills that come my way!

I feel much better after reading these reviews, I was told today that it was my fault I couldn't do my self assessment tax return online as I must be putting my UTR number in wrong, but the advisor couldn't help me because I had rung the wrong number so I should hang up and try ringing another number after waiting 45 minutes

Goldwins is an absolutely abysmal service provider, the HMRC needs to pay attention into the wait times and absolutely terrible customer service with no alternative avenues for resolve.

Waiting for 50 mins to then be cut off. Called back and waited another 48 mins to be on the phone for 40 mins being passed from
Person to person and then they cut me off.
Completely incompetent, rude, uneducated staff.

Issues with Untaxed Interest, the Revenue claim amounts but no detail to identify, seems the £ 1000 allowance for low paid is being ignored.Changes to 2 previous years went through but no sign of low paid relief. Challenging the new years untaxed figure very difficult, hung out to dry on the phone, so tried online which doesn't work but got a promise of a call back with a ref' no & pass phrase said to be in 2 working days its 8 working days & no response. Tax code is incorrect & has unsubstantiated income which is wildly overstated fro this & previous tax year.

Thought I'd try the new app...
installed, put in my government gateway no. it sent me a code to my phone, I put it in.....instantly took me back full circle to the sign in page! Tried again, got to the bit where it asks you to set a pin no. Put in a pin....
"we are busy at the moment, try again in five minutes"!!!!!!!!
Well, I should have guessed it wouldn't be straightforward, this is Government sh*t after all. I uninstalled the app, I'll use my PC as usual if I need to visit HMRC!

Spoke to Phil A from St Helens regarding transferring marriage allowance from one spouse to the other. This raised further questions regarding our tax. I could not recommend him more highly in his attitude and helpfulness in sorting things out. It is rare these days to find someone so kind and patient and knowledgeable.Our tax affairs are now fully sorted and we feel reassured. Our very grateful thanks !!!

I am owed a repayment of just over 2K I haven't claimed it for years recently submitted 4 Months they haven't repayment my self - assessment can you imagine over 5 years and 4 months they been keeping my 2 K ! While I pay my taxes from myself and my business like a good little boy for years and years and the only one time I claim back my repayment ! I most probably have thousands lost in the system. they say they going to refer me after I have already been referred in January 26 before to the same department that has no number or email or name and they never get back to people. Ever owe HMRC money they will hunt you down and give you harassment and send bailiffs when they owe you they couldn't give a toss and if possible they would even not pay you back your money the HMRC posted losses for several years in a row and millions of misappropriated funds not found vanished no wonder people don't have faith in system HMRC big scam.

complete and utter Liars.
more corruption. dont have a clue what they are doing
raised complaints, dont get back to you
bunch of muppets on the phones
typical British bullsh@t system

Utterly useless.
Link to fill in form does not work.
Ask for email, they refuse to give me an email.

Clowns.