HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) letter explained in English
Tax office. The UK tax office. It handles Income Tax, National Insurance, VAT, Child Benefit and tax credits.
Letters you may get
- P800 tax calculation — you paid too much or too little tax through your job or pension
- Simple Assessment (PA302) — tax you owe, worked out by HMRC, with a date to pay
- Self Assessment reminder or penalty — a tax return or payment is late
- Tax code notice — the code your employer uses to take tax from your pay
What to do
- HMRC never asks you to pay with gift cards or vouchers, and doesn’t threaten arrest by phone or text. If unsure, check the letter in your HMRC online account on GOV.UK.
- If you can’t pay in full, you can often set up a Time to Pay arrangement online or by phone.
- Find the deadline. Look for “by”, “within”, “no later than”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“mandatory reconsideration”, “administrative review”, “representations”, “challenge”, “appeal”, “dispute”, “review”). See the template.
Words you may see
- HMRC
- HM Revenue and Customs. The UK tax office.
- Self Assessment
- The yearly tax return some people must send to HMRC, for example the self-employed. The online deadline is usually 31 January.
- Simple Assessment
- A tax bill that HMRC works out for you, without a tax return. You can query it within 60 days.
- P800
- A tax calculation letter. It says if you paid too much or too little tax through your job or pension.
- tax code
- A code like 1257L. Your employer or pension uses it to work out how much tax to take from your pay.
- Time to Pay arrangement
- A payment plan with HMRC to pay tax you owe in monthly parts.
Questions
What is the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)?
Tax office. The UK tax office. It handles Income Tax, National Insurance, VAT, Child Benefit and tax credits.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “by”, “within”, “no later than” — they mark the deadline. In the UK, a letter sent by first class post is usually treated as delivered on the second working day after it was posted. But many deadlines, for example for appeals, count from the date printed on the letter. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“mandatory reconsideration”, “administrative review”, “representations”, “challenge”, “appeal”, “dispute”, “review”).
Can I read a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in English. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in the United Kingdom
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) · Council (borough, district or city council) · Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) · TV Licensing · Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) · County Court / Magistrates’ Court / Tribunal (HMCTS) · Enforcement agents (bailiffs) · Debt collection agency