Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the HMRC helpline a freephone service.

HMRC is not considering making HMRC helplines a freephone service.

Moving HMRC’s helplines onto freephone 0800 numbers would mean that HMRC would have to fund the helplines and pass the cost on to the taxpayers.

HMRC’s judgement is that it is fairer for the businesses and individuals that use the helpline to pay, rather than the public through general taxation.

0300 numbers, which HMRC currently uses, cost no more than 01 and 02 numbers and will typically come out of inclusive minutes on customers’ phone contracts.

Many customers will be able to access the services and support they need through one of our 200 plus digital services available through GOV.UK and via the HMRC app, which are free to use.

Every day around 1.4 million users are supported through HMRC's online digital services, not including thousands more customers who are using commercial tax software products to help manage their taxes.