A new service has been launched to help people who need to sort out tax issues following bereavement.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced on 21 May that it has set up a dedicated telephone helpline and address to improve services for people with queries on self assessment and PAYE matters after a death.
HMRC has also simplified its guidance and letters to customers to make the process of dealing with tax following bereavement more straightforward and it has redesigned the R27 form – the main form that customers use to finalise the tax affairs of someone who has died – to make it easier to complete.
Stephen Banyard, acting director general of personal tax at HMRC, said: “We know that bereavement can be a very stressful and difficult time for family members. We want to settle the estates of customers who have died as easily and sensitively as possible.”
HMRC said the service was targeted towards customers who do not have professional advisers acting on their behalf.
