Help with tax
problems
This section explains the steps you can take if you have
a tax problem and you do not have a tax adviser.
You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to
the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:
Finding information
Tax can be very complicated and full of jargon. Sometimes tax
law is only understood by the taxman and tax advisers. However you
can handle some of the more common issues that can arise for the
individual yourself – information on these is available on several
websites.
For instance, you can learn how to check a code number or fill
in a self-assessment tax form or check a tax calculation. Websites
that can help you do this include:
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Tax Aid and Tax Help for Older
People
If you are on a low income (up to £15,000 to £17,500) there are
two charities, TaxAid and TaxHelp for Older People, which provide
free advice through tax specialists. This is given by telephone and
sometimes by face-to-face contact. If your income is over this
range, then look at Step Four.
TaxAid (link opens in a new
window) runs a national helpline service with face-to-face
advice sessions in London, Birmingham and Manchester. As a charity,
it provides free and independent advice, assistance and advocacy to
people needing help with tax or tax debt. The subjects it covers
include tax allowances, tax codes, tax arrears, self-employment,
tax returns and HMRC administration and complaints.
The service is intended for people who cannot afford to employ a
tax adviser. So their clients tend to be people on low incomes or
with debt problems and self-employed people with small businesses
(low income is defined as 60% of median earnings, currently around
£16,000 a year for an individual).
Telephone advice can be given and interviews may be arranged by
telephoning the TaxAid helpline on 0845 120 3779 between 10am and
12 noon, Monday to Thursday or by email (link opens in a
new window) .
TaxHelp for Older People
(TOP) (link opens in a new window) is a free, confidential
service providing tax advice for people over 60 on low incomes (the
guideline household income is £15,000 a year net or less) who
cannot afford to employ a professional tax adviser. It was
originally launched by the Chartered Institute of Taxation, but is
now an independent charity and uses over 600 professionally
qualified volunteer advisers. The service can provide assistance
with any tax query that is experienced by a low-income
pensioner.
Appointments with an adviser can be arranged at offices such as
Age Concern or the client's local Citizens Advice bureau. Home
visits may be organised in cases of disability. The advisers are
located nationally. Telephone advice can be provided for simple
queries. Helpline: 0845 601 3321 or 01308
488066 (Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm) or write to: TaxHelp for
Older People, Pineapple Business Park, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset
DT6 5DB. Their email address is taxvol@taxvol.org.uk.
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Private tax advisers
If your income is too high for help from TaxAid or TOP then your
alternative is to take advice from a fee-charging adviser. There
are a number of professional bodies who will provide details of
advisers in your area:
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