Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

HMRC to slash physical post – unless you owe them money

by June 14, 2025
June 14, 2025
HMRC to slash physical post – unless you owe them money

HM Revenue & Customs is to dramatically cut the number of physical letters it sends, announcing plans to eliminate most outbound post — unless it directly generates revenue — as part of a broader shift to digital-first communications.

The move, confirmed as part of Wednesday’s spending review, is expected to reduce HMRC’s post output by 75% by the 2028-29 tax year and save £50 million a year.

Taxpayers will still receive letters about unpaid taxes or compliance issues, but most other correspondence, including general updates and notifications, will be moved online.

The government said the change was a key step toward making HMRC a “digital-first organisation”, with at least 90% of customer interactions to be handled online in the coming years.

Tax professionals have voiced concern that the shift could alienate vulnerable customers. Lindsay Scott, spokesperson for the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), warned the change “risks further damaging customer service” unless safeguards are introduced.

“Plans to phase out post must be handled with care,” Scott said. “About seven million people in the UK still need help to navigate digital services, and they can’t simply be left behind.”

Despite HMRC reporting that 70% of customer interactions are now handled digitally, many taxpayers still rely on paper. Last year alone, more than 300,000 tax returns were filed using traditional paper forms.

The move follows widespread criticism of HMRC’s past digitalisation efforts. The Making Tax Digital initiative has run eight years behind schedule and gone more than £1 billion over budget, according to the National Audit Office.

Digital services under strain

While HMRC champions its webchat and online systems, industry surveys suggest taxpayers remain frustrated. According to a December report by CIOT and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW):
• HMRC’s webchat service connected less than half the time
• Satisfaction with webchat was just 28%
• Satisfaction with phone services stood at 56%, with average wait times of 23 minutes
• 34% of callers gave up before being connected — more than double the department’s 15% target

The new funding package also includes £1.6 billion over four years to overhaul HMRC’s core technology and data infrastructure, plus a further £500 million aimed at boosting online service performance.

Revenue pressure driving reform

The digital transformation is part of a wider push by the Treasury to boost tax receipts without raising rates. The government estimates the changes, along with 7,900 new compliance and debt recovery staff, will bring in an extra £7.5 billion a year by 2029-30.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “Reducing the number of letters we send and communicating in different ways instead will provide a better service for our customers in line with modern-day expectations, as well as deliver savings of £50 million by 2028-29.”

However, critics say it’s telling that revenue-generating post – such as tax bills – will remain untouched, while helpful or explanatory letters are phased out.

As one tax adviser put it: “It seems HMRC only wants to write when it’s chasing you for money.”

With pressure mounting to raise tax revenue while improving service, the success of HMRC’s digital-first ambitions may depend on whether the most vulnerable customers are kept in the loop — or simply left behind.

Read more:
HMRC to slash physical post – unless you owe them money

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Corporate support for UK Pride festivals declines amid political backlash
next post
Time for Israel to take out ‘head of the snake,’ target members of Iranian regime, says former IDF intel chief

You may also like

Court rules NFT images of furry Birkin bags...

February 9, 2023

Female entrepreneurs to add £250b to the economy...

June 7, 2023

PayPal admits policy to fine customers for ‘misinformation’...

October 11, 2022

Family-owned sports seating firm secures £100k green loan...

January 18, 2023

Microsoft to Offer Teams Separately from Office Suite...

April 3, 2024

Why More British Companies Should Explore Expansion into...

October 24, 2024

Vets could be overcharged pet owners, regulator warns

March 12, 2024

Gatis Eglitis and EXANTE: Pioneering Global Innovation in...

December 27, 2024

Met Police roll out facial recognition technology to...

October 19, 2023

Vauxhall-maker warns Brexit threatens electric cars in UK

May 17, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Xi Jinping’s surprise no-show at BRICS Summit fuels speculation about China’s global standing

      July 5, 2025
    • Tesla sees UK sales rebound in June as EV market accelerates

      July 5, 2025
    • Hived raises $42m to roll out electric delivery fleet across southern England

      July 5, 2025
    • Week Ahead: NIFTY Set To Stay In A Defined Range Unless These Levels Are Taken Out; Drags Support Higher

      July 5, 2025
    • “A turning point for education”: James Caan launches bold education reform plan in House of Lords

      July 5, 2025
    • ‘Invest in Women’ fund criticised for slow rollout as MPs call for bolder action

      July 5, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,397)
    • Investing (2,102)
    • Politics (15,946)
    • Stocks (3,190)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved