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20,000 businesses helped with time to pay

HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS News Release (NAT 05/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 14 January 2009

Over 20,000 businesses have delayed paying more than £350 million of tax after contacting HMRC's Business Payment Support Service (BPSS) in the last six weeks.

The new service, announced at the Pre Budget Report (PBR), gives businesses the opportunity to pay all their HMRC taxes, including PAYE, National insurance Contributions and VAT through payment timetables which they can afford.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms MP said:

"This is providing real help to business across the whole country. I am delighted that HMRC has been able to help more than 20,000 businesses so far. This new scheme is helping businesses to stay open and keep their staff in jobs.

"I urge any business facing financial difficulty in these challenging economic times to pick up the phone and speak to an HMRC adviser. A short phone call could save hard working businesses time and money."

Time to pay was launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the PBR in November 2008. The service is designed to assist all businesses that will be unable to pay their tax and in the majority of cases, HMRC will be able to make a decision in around 10 minutes.

Notes for editors
1. The BPSS can be contacted on 0845 302 1435 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 8 am to 4pm at weekends.

2. Further information is available at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/business-payment.htm

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk