Jay Sear

Ok - I think I have managed to get it sorted - at least I have been told that the BACs payment has now been paid - here is what I did and I hope it works for both of you! 1. Don't bother with phoning - it seems impossible even to get in a queue, Instead use HMRC online https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/ask-hmrc/chat/self-assessment - you start off with a chatbot which will try and direct you to various pages but just keep repeating that you need to speak to an advisor about a refund. It will tell you if no advisors are available but otherwise you will be put in a queue. I had to wait about 30 minutes. 2. Have ready the following info to cut and paste into the chat: your national insurance number, name, DOB, address, the date that you submitted the refund and reference number if you have it and the amount owed. 3. I got cut off from the first advisor and had to wait another 25 mins for the next advisor so I'd recommend just writing it all down and cutting and pasting it in. 4. The adviser checked my account, authorised the refund, asked me to confirm bank account number and sort code and told me it would be in my account within 10 days. Fingers crossed and good luck!

Dear HMRC, The problem is that I (and other people) cannot contact the self assessment team - if you phone up you are not given the option of waiting - the call is just disconnected. Please can you advise how to get through? Thanks

I overpaid tax of nearly £7k in the 2023/24 tax year. I completed my self assessment in early April and applied for the refund on 20 April. According to the website I should have had a response by 31 May but I haven't. I can't get through to speak to someone - the call is just disconnected. How do I follow this up?