If logged on via the Government Gateway it used to be possible to send messages to HMRC about my tax account - and have them answered.
DAK whether this facility was withdrawn or is it just well-hidden?
Messaging now appears to be one way only: HMRC to me.
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Messaging HMRC
Forum rules
Direct questions and answers, this room is not for general discussion please
Direct questions and answers, this room is not for general discussion please
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stewamax
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Re: Messaging HMRC
chas49 wrote:You can webchat or phone apparently...
Indeed. The problem is that Webchat is either solidly busy or unavailable, and ringing them needs patience and tolerance of a phone bill.
Either the Gateway service is secure or it isn't. And if authentication and session security (https) are adequate for a webchat, they should also be adequate for secure messaging.
But I have used such a service with HMRC in the past and I can't help thinking that it is still available but hidden in the labyrinthine detail of its websites.
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UncleEbenezer
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Re: Messaging HMRC
A few days ago I had email from them: "you have a new message". Was too ill to follow up at the time.
Yesterday I logged in (to Self Assessessment), and after a far longer time than I should have to spend down a labyrinth of blind alleys (the worst being a "Contact HMRC" tab whose page froze my browser), I found the message. Turned out to be totally mundane and requiring no action or response. I presume I could've sent them a message from somewhere there.
Getting there became easy once I'd hit a "home" link on their service. Of course the actual label wasn't anything so intuitive as "home", and I don't recollect what it was.
When I logged out, it invited me to give feedback, so I did. Yes I had found what I was looking for, but it was much harder than it should have been.
Summary advice: try every promising-looking link EXCEPT that evil "Contact HMRC" tab.
[edit] Self Assessessment? Hmm, I kind-of like it. Anyone for banananana dakry?
Yesterday I logged in (to Self Assessessment), and after a far longer time than I should have to spend down a labyrinth of blind alleys (the worst being a "Contact HMRC" tab whose page froze my browser), I found the message. Turned out to be totally mundane and requiring no action or response. I presume I could've sent them a message from somewhere there.
Getting there became easy once I'd hit a "home" link on their service. Of course the actual label wasn't anything so intuitive as "home", and I don't recollect what it was.
When I logged out, it invited me to give feedback, so I did. Yes I had found what I was looking for, but it was much harder than it should have been.
Summary advice: try every promising-looking link EXCEPT that evil "Contact HMRC" tab.
[edit] Self Assessessment? Hmm, I kind-of like it. Anyone for banananana dakry?
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mutantpoodle
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Re: Messaging HMRC
sending them a secure message is as others have said almost impossible to find
I have also given feedback to this effect, but as expected no notice is taken of anything remotely critical of a government postion
in addition
when asking questions bear in mind that whoever answers will not have looked at the file to check on the answer given
I asked a question on my daughters account for whom they have written consent/authority to deal with me...but was refused because it wasn't my account
no effort made to check!
that aside I find doing tax return online SO much better and easier than all that form filling!!
I have also given feedback to this effect, but as expected no notice is taken of anything remotely critical of a government postion
in addition
when asking questions bear in mind that whoever answers will not have looked at the file to check on the answer given
I asked a question on my daughters account for whom they have written consent/authority to deal with me...but was refused because it wasn't my account
no effort made to check!
that aside I find doing tax return online SO much better and easier than all that form filling!!