HMRC contact guide
How to Contact HMRC About VAT: Phone Numbers, Webchat and Postal Address
The HMRC VAT helpline is 0300 200 3700, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It is closed at weekends and on bank holidays. Lines are less busy between 8.30am and 11am. For many questions the VAT digital assistant, which runs 24 hours a day, or your online VAT account will be quicker than waiting on the phone.
- HMRC VAT helpline
- 0300 200 3700
- From outside the UK
- +44 2920 501 261
- Relay UK
- Dial 18001 then 0300 200 3700
- In Welsh
- 0300 200 3705, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
- Opening hours
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Closed weekends and bank holidays
- Best time to call
- 8.30am to 11am
- Have ready
- Your VAT registration number and your business postcode
Which number do you need?
HMRC splits VAT work across several teams. Calling the right one first saves a transfer and a second queue.
Find the right HMRC line
Pick a topic to see the number and whether it is open now, in UK time.
General VAT questions, registration, returns, schemes, complaints
Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm
Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm
Have your VAT registration number and postcode ready.
Open or closed is worked out in UK time, using bank holidays in England and Wales. Hours can change around Christmas, so check GOV.UK then.
There is no separate VAT line for accountants and agents. HMRC’s dedicated agent lines cover Self Assessment, PAYE and debt, so agents use the main VAT helpline.
Before you call
- Have your details to hand: your nine digit VAT registration number, business postcode and any letter or reference HMRC sent you.
- Expect a voice menu. The line uses speech recognition, so you will be asked to say why you are calling. A short, clear answer such as “VAT registration” gets you routed faster.
- Check your details are up to date. HMRC may ask security questions based on what is in your business tax account. If your address or phone number has changed, the questions can fail.
- Call early in the day. HMRC says its lines are less busy between 8.30am and 11am.
How long will you wait?
Phone waits have come down. Across 2025/26 HMRC answered calls in an average of 12 minutes 35 seconds, and in April to June 2026 the average was 11 minutes 35 seconds, down from more than 13 minutes a year earlier. In March 2026 the average fell below 10 minutes for the first time in over four years. In April to June 2026, about 88% of callers who wanted an adviser got through.
HMRC wants far fewer people to need the phone at all. In 2025/26, 78% of contacts with HMRC were handled digitally, and its target is at least 90% by 2030.
Contacts handled digitally, 2025/2678%
0%Target: at least 90% by 2030
The VAT digital assistant and webchat
HMRC’s VAT digital assistant answers common questions at any time of day, every day of the year. If it cannot help, it can pass you to a human adviser on webchat when an adviser is available. It is a good first stop for questions about deadlines, payments, registration progress and how to use your online account.
Open the VAT digital assistant
Do it online instead
Most VAT tasks no longer need a call or a letter. Sign in to your VAT online account or business tax account to:
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Register for VAT | Online registration service. See our guide on how to register for VAT |
| See returns due, payments and what you owe | VAT online account |
| Submit a VAT return | Making Tax Digital compatible software. See how to do a VAT return |
| Set up a Direct Debit | VAT online account |
| Check or appeal a penalty | VAT online account. Our late payment calculator shows how penalties are worked out |
| Change your business name, address or bank details | VAT online account. Tell HMRC within 30 days of a change, and give 14 days’ notice for new bank details |
| Set up a payment plan | Online payment plan service, if you cannot pay in full |
| Correct errors on past returns | HMRC’s online error correction service, or a letter. Form VAT652 was withdrawn in September 2025 |
| Cancel your registration | Online, in most cases. See our deregistration guide |
| Check a supplier’s VAT number | HMRC’s Check a UK VAT number service, or check the format first with our VAT number checker |
HMRC has started moving sign in to GOV.UK One Login, beginning with new individual customers in February 2026. If you already use a Government Gateway user ID, you do not need to do anything until HMRC contacts you.
Writing to HMRC about VAT
HMRC asks you to write only if you cannot find an answer online or by phone. For general VAT letters, registration changes, the Flat Rate and Annual Accounting schemes, option to tax notifications and error corrections, the address is:
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1WR
United Kingdom
You do not need a street name or PO box; the BX postcode is enough. A few VAT matters use different addresses:
- Insolvency: Value Added Tax, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1WT, United Kingdom.
- Charities and VAT reliefs for disabled and older people: Charities, Savings and International 2, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1BU.
- Paper forms such as VAT1, VAT7 and VAT427: use the address printed on the form itself.
- Couriers: courier deliveries for BX postcodes go to a separate courier address, which HMRC publishes on GOV.UK.
Always include your VAT registration number, business name and a phone number on every page.
Can you email HMRC about VAT?
Not for general questions. HMRC has no general VAT email address. A few teams use email for specific jobs, such as the option to tax unit, or when replying to a request HMRC has sent you. HMRC will only email you about a tax matter if you have agreed to it in writing.
Spotting VAT scams
HMRC will never threaten you with arrest, leave a threatening voicemail or ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers. HMRC will only ever email you about a tax rebate, or ask for personal or payment details, from an address ending in hmrc.gov.uk.
HMRC’s own warning signs are contact that rushes or threatens you, arrives unexpectedly, asks for bank details, tells you to move money, or offers a refund or grant. Scam messages often use a VAT refund or an urgent VAT demand as the hook. If something looks wrong:
- Suspicious email: forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, then delete it.
- Suspicious text: forward it to 60599.
- Suspicious call: report it using HMRC’s online form for suspicious phone calls.
- Lost money: contact your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud (in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101).
If you are unsure whether a call or letter is genuine, hang up and ring HMRC yourself on 0300 200 3700, using the number from this page or GOV.UK rather than one the caller gives you.
Making a complaint
If HMRC has made a mistake or treated you unfairly, you can complain online or by calling 0300 200 3700. Complaints about disagreements over how much tax you owe are handled differently: you usually need to appeal the decision instead.
Doing the sums before you call?
For quick VAT sums before you call, use our VAT calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HMRC VAT phone number?
0300 200 3700 from the UK, or +44 2920 501 261 from abroad. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Is the HMRC VAT helpline free?
Numbers starting 0300 cost the same as a call to a standard 01 or 02 landline number, and are usually included in mobile and landline call allowances.
Is the VAT helpline open at weekends?
No. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. The VAT digital assistant is available at any time.
What is HMRC’s postal address for VAT?
BT VAT, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1WR, United Kingdom. Paper forms should go to the address printed on the form.
How do I chase a VAT registration?
HMRC processed 95.8% of VAT registrations within 40 days in 2025/26. If you have heard nothing after 40 working days, call 0300 200 3700.
Who do I call if I cannot pay my VAT bill?
HMRC’s VAT payment problems line on 0300 200 3831, or set up a payment plan online. Contact HMRC before the due date if you can, because late payment penalties and interest build up quickly.
How do I talk to someone at HMRC about import VAT?
Call the imports and exports helpline on 0300 322 9434. Our import VAT calculator can help you estimate the amount first.
Sources: GOV.UK, VAT: general enquiries; Payment problems: enquiries; Imports and exports: enquiries; HMRC performance update, April to June 2026; Identify HMRC related scams; Ofcom, what are 03 numbers. Numbers and hours can change, so check GOV.UK if a line does not connect.