VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Revenue and Customs: Information

Asked by Lisa SmartLiberal DemocratTreasuryTabled Answered 28 April 2025UIN 44648

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to improve its (a) telephone and (b) online chat services to ensure that people can receive human assistance when digital systems fail to provide information.

Answered by James Murray

Once they have submitted an A1 certificate renewal or other time-sensitive application, customers can use the “check when you can expect a reply from HMRC” tool which is available on gov.uk to confirm when they are likely to receive a response.

Customers can contact HMRC via telephony or web chat for urgent A1 applications. HMRC advisors will then decide if the case needs urgent escalation and will take it forward as appropriate. These cases relate to customers who need a certificate to work in another country.

HMRC are always seeking to improve their day to day performance including their telephony and webchat service. HMRC received extra funding last year to recruit more customer service advisers and, under the current Government, are focused on transforming services to better support taxpayers.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim