Small businesses struggling to pay tax bills report long waits to clear tax and customs before self-assessment deadline
Small businesses struggling to pay their tax bills are reporting long waits to clear tax and customs before Tuesday’s self-assessment deadline. Some wait on hold for hours, a situation that only adds to the stress of those struggling to pay after the pandemic hit their profits.
Julie Simmonds (pseudonym) runs her own HR consultancy in Sussex. Due to a downturn in business following the pandemic and taking maternity leave, she has been forced to dip into her tax savings to meet her expenses and is now unable to pay a £25,000 tax bill.
“I’ve spent hours on the phone trying to get someone who can help me,” says Julie. “I offered to pay £500 a month to lower my bill until I came back to work full time, but they said no. I’ve never had trouble paying my taxes before, but they just don’t want to know. It was incredibly stressful.
Struggle: Some companies wait for hours, a situation that only adds to the stress of those struggling to pay after the pandemic hits their profits
Another individual entrepreneur says, “I spent six hours on hold last week and still haven’t fixed the problem. I spent my weekend worrying about it because they just don’t answer the phone.
Martin McTague, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “This is a crucial time for small businesses and the self-employed as the tax deadline approaches, so small businesses grappling with their invoices should contact HMRC as soon as possible to see if they are eligible for a Time to Pay scheme.
“HMRC must not drop the ball by forcing small business owners to spend time on hold before speaking to someone. Admitting that you need help with your bills is daunting enough, and long call response times only add to that burden.
Emma Jones, founder of small business support platform Enterprise Nation, said: “We urge businesses to develop a risk management plan to minimize the impact of rising costs, control cash flow by tracking payments and getting into the habit of regularly setting aside money to pay taxes.
