HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have plans to use a callers voice as their password in an effort to speed up phone calls.
In systems that are being used by banks, a customer’s voice recording is turned into encrypted biometric data, which is then used when they call to clear security checks. HMRC are planning to trial a system like this.
HMRC has come under heavy fire for the poor handling of its customer service phone lines. According to statistics, for January through November last year, the phone line went dead on almost 44,000 callers who had been waiting 70 minutes.
The Public Accounts Committee in their January report concluded that HMRC was deliberately running a poor phone service to try and get taxpayers to use online help instead. Last year, HMRC announced that they were closing their phone line altogether between April and September. However, they had to reverse that decision the next day after a backlash.
It seems that efforts are now being made to modernise the phone service and make it more efficient.
If you are having difficulty contacting HMRC or would like help in dealing with them, please call us and we would be happy to help you!
See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07z5d0v79ko
The Apprenticeship Levy has undergone its biggest overhaul since its introduction, with major changes taking effect from 1 August 2026. For Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the most significant development is the expansion of what levy funds can be used for under the new Growth and Skills Levy. This expansion comes alongside tighter funding rules, making planning more important than ever.
The Chancellor, John Healey, has given a number of speeches explaining how he intends to boost growth, reduce red tape and maintain fiscal responsibility.