Here’s a consolidated list of useful contacts, online resources and tax tools to help with tax issues, including PAYE and Self Assessment. There’s also a helpful jargon buster for tax terms!
Where to get Help with Tax Issues
Always seek help and advice relevant to your own tax situation, from HMRC or a professional adviser.
This list includes free resources as well as fee-charging professionals.
HMRC helplines & online resources
Problems paying your tax bill?
PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
HMRC Helplines
General tax enquiries: 0300 200 3300
Get help with your PAYE tax code, overpayments/underpayments
Self Assessment: 0300 200 3310
Newly Self-Employed: 0300 200 3504
National Insurance contributions enquiries: 0300 200 3500
HMRC Online Resources
Personal Tax Account – set up or sign in
Manage your tax affairs online: check your tax information & manage your details with HMRC
Tell HMRC about a change to personal details
Change of name, address, income, relationship, family, gender
How to claim a tax refund
If you disagree with a tax decision – contact HMRC
e.g. a tax bill or penalty
Check your National Insurance record
Check if there are gaps in contributions, which may affect your eligibility for benefits or pension; how to make voluntary contributions
Get help with tax – GOV.UK
Problems paying your tax bill?
Business Payment Support Service: 0300 200 3835
Contact HMRC if you can’t pay your tax bill on time – you may avoid penalties
(Helpline is for individuals or businesses)
Self Assessment Payment Helpline: 0300 200 3822
Call HMRC if you have missed your payment date
What to do if you can’t pay your tax on time – GOV.UK
PAYE (Pay As You Earn)
If you are employed and pay tax via PAYE, first talk to your employer (Payroll Department), who should be able to help with problems relating to your tax code or PAYE.
HMRC general tax enquiries
Or call HMRC helpline: 0300 200 3300
Get help with your PAYE tax code, overpayments/underpayments
How to check your tax code & tell HMRC if it is wrong
If necessary, your tax code will be adjusted so you get the appropriate allowance & pay the correct tax over the year
Tax overpayments & underpayments
How to check your HMRC tax calculation & get a refund or pay tax you owe
Self Assessment
If you use the Self Assessment system and your tax affairs are complex, you might need an accountant to do your tax return or give you specific advice.
For most general enquiries, visit HMRC Self Assessment Help
Or call the Self Assessment helpline 0300 200 3310
Help & support for Self Assessment: videos & webinars- GOV.UK
Specific Self Assessment topics:
Check whether you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return
Register for Self Assessment if you are self-employed
Register for Self Assessment if you are not self-employed
Self-Assessment Tax Returns
Self-employment
What constitutes self-employment (for tax purposes)
Other Useful Resources & Contacts
Help with tax problems – Citizens Advice
Sources of help & advice for all parts of the UK, including HMRC, tax charities, other useful sites & fee-charging advisers
Find a Tax Adviser – Citizens Advice
If your tax affairs are complex and you can afford to pay for advice, you could search these professional bodies who will help you find a local specialist tax adviser
TaxAid Charity
Advice for people on low incomes, whose problems cannot be resolved by HMRC
Tax Guides – Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
Tax Guides for Students – Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
Simple Introduction to the UK Tax System
Income Tax – GOV.UK
The full details!
Tax Tools
Income Tax Calculator – Money Saving Expert
Simple tool to estimate your Income Tax bill, National Insurance, pension contributions & Student Loan repayments (If you have a Student Loan, check ‘Advanced Options’). It gives a guide to how much you will owe and your remaining take-home pay.
Tax Checker Tools – HMRC
Estimate how much tax you should pay for the current tax year or previous years
Self-employed Ready Reckoner Tool – HMRC
Estimate your Tax and National Insurance bill
Work out a monthly amount to set aside for tax payments
Tax Terms Jargon Buster
HMRC: Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs – Government department responsible for the collection of UK taxes
Tax year: The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year
Income tax: A tax charged on most types of personal income. Taxes are used to fund public services (e.g. NHS, education, the welfare system) & infrastructure (e.g. roads & housing)
Tax allowances & tax reliefs: These reduce the amount of tax you have to pay on income you receive
Personal Allowance: The amount of income you’re allowed to earn each year, before you start paying income tax
Personal Savings Allowance (PSA): The amount of tax-free interest you can earn each year on your savings (most people won’t have to pay any tax on their savings interest)
Tax relief: You’re allowed to deduct certain payments you make from your total earnings, so there’s less income for you to be taxed on e.g. you can claim for the cost of uniform, equipment & certain business expenses
Tax band & rate: This defines how much tax you pay on all income above your tax-free Personal Allowance. Most people pay tax at the basic rate (20%)
National Insurance Contributions (NICs): In addition to income tax, you pay National Insurance on earnings above a specific threshold. Your contributions build your entitlement to certain benefits including the state pension & maternity allowance
National Insurance number: This is your personal reference number used by HMRC to track your tax and National Insurance payments. It is normally assigned at age 16 and will be required when you start work. You’ll find it on payslips & letters from HMRC
Pay As You Earn (PAYE): This is a system of collecting income tax and National Insurance contributions. If you work for an employer, they will automatically deduct income tax and National Insurance from your monthly earnings, & pay them to HMRC for you
Tax code: Your tax code tells your employer how much tax to deduct from your pay. It reflects how much tax-free income (Personal Allowance) you get in that tax year
PAYE coding notice: A notice from HMRC stating your tax code and how it was worked out
P45: A form you get from your employer when you stop working for them. It shows how much tax you have paid on your salary so far in that tax year. You’ll need to give a copy of your P45 to your next employer
P60: Annual summary from your employer, showing your salary, tax payments & any other deductions e.g. student loan repayments
Starter checklist: If you are starting your first job or have lost your P45, your new employer may ask you to complete this so they can calculate your correct tax code
Self Assessment: Tax collection system for the self-employed, or when tax cannot be collected through PAYE (e.g. if you owe tax on savings or income from abroad). The taxpayer files an annual tax return & pays income tax and National Insurance directly to HMRC
Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR): 10 digit number that HMRC uses to identify you or your company. You only get a UTR if you submit a Self Assessment tax return e.g. because you’re self-employed
Gross income: This refers to your total earnings before taxes or other deductions. It includes all sources of income e.g. salary, wages, tips, rental income, savings interest, dividends or capital gains
Personal Tax Account: Whether you’re an employee or self-employed, you can set up an account to manage your tax affairs and interact with HMRC online
