HMRC has confirmed it will open dedicated self assessment helplines this Saturday, after reversing an earlier decision to offer no phone support on deadline day.
With the self assessment deadline falling on Saturday, 31 January, HMRC had initially planned to close its helplines, prompting criticism from taxpayers and advisers. Six days after confirming there would be no weekend phone service, HMRC announced a change of approach, restoring limited telephone support and significantly expanding its webchat capacity.
The self assessment helpline for the public will now be open from 9am to 4pm on Saturday. However, the agent dedicated line (ADL), used by accountants and tax advisers, will remain closed over the weekend. The ADL will close at 6pm on Friday, and reopen at 8am on Monday. Webchat support for tax agents will still be available on deadline day, running from 8am to 4pm.
HMRC has made clear that it continues to prioritise digital services, encouraging taxpayers to use online guidance, the 24/7 digital assistant and webchat wherever possible. On deadline day, HMRC says webchat capacity will be increased to ten times its usual Saturday level.
An HMRC spokesperson said the move reflects its commitment to helping customers file and pay on time, while urging those who have not yet submitted to act sooner rather than waiting until the final hours.
More than nine million people have already filed their tax returns, with submission levels higher than at the same point last year. Despite this, HMRC estimates that at least two million taxpayers will still file at the last minute.
The deadline for submitting 2024/25 self assessment tax returns is 23:59 on Saturday, 31 January.
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