Calling HMRC from Overseas: Self Assessment and PAYE Phone Numbers

Calling HMRC from abroad? Find your case below to see which HMRC number to dial, the hours HMRC gives for that line, and what a call costs from 002call.

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Self Assessment: general enquiries and payment help

For questions about a Self Assessment return, a bill or a notice, call the Self Assessment line. HMRC gives the outside-UK number on its GOV.UK page for this service.

1. Check the day and time. The line is open on weekdays between 8am and 6pm. It is closed on bank holidays, so check the date before you dial.
2. Have your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) ready. HMRC's payment page asks callers for their UTR, and the same is true for general Self Assessment questions.
3. Use the same number for payment help. HMRC's payment enquiries page lists +44 161 931 9070 as the outside-UK number for help submitting a payment. HMRC says it cannot take a payment on this line, so pay your bill online or through your bank first.

Self Assessment online sign-in and technical problems

HMRC runs a separate line for sign-in problems and trouble submitting a return online. It is not the general Self Assessment line.

Use this number for online services problems. For a question about the tax itself, the general Self Assessment line above is the right one.

Income Tax and PAYE for individuals

For PAYE and income tax questions as an employee or pensioner, such as tax codes, a P800 calculation, or an over or underpayment, HMRC lists a separate outside-UK number.

Have your National Insurance number ready when you call, as HMRC asks for it on this line.

Employer PAYE enquiries

If you run payroll or employ people, call HMRC's employer helpline. HMRC lists this outside-UK number on its employers' general enquiries page.

1. Have your reference number. HMRC says it can give only general advice without your Accounts Office reference or PAYE reference number, so find these before you call.
2. Expect security questions. HMRC's page says the helpline may ask you some security questions.
3. Use this line for help, not payments. HMRC's payment enquiries page lists the same outside-UK number for help submitting a payment. It says you cannot make a payment on that line.

Hours and time zone

HMRC gives the hours for each line above as weekdays from 8am to 6pm, closed on bank holidays. None of HMRC's pages names a time zone for these hours. Work out the time difference from your own clock before you call.

HMRC also publishes Christmas and New Year opening times, and it has changed hours for individual Saturdays. Check the GOV.UK page for the line before you call.

Calling from a mobile, a hotel or a payphone

Calls from mobiles, public phones and hotel rooms may attract extra charges. GOV.UK says call costs are approximate and advises checking the actual cost, particularly when you are calling from abroad. Calls from payphones can cost more.

Rates and what to expect

Call any HMRC number above from your browser for a flat $0.02 / min.

002call sends your call over the internet, so it skips the international call charges your carrier and hotel phone would add. There is no subscription, and you pay only for the minutes you use. If you are abroad, Wi-Fi avoids mobile data charges.

What to have ready before you call

• A one-sentence reason for calling. Say what you need, such as "I need help with a P800 calculation", so the first answer is useful.
• Your UTR for any Self Assessment call.
• Your National Insurance number for an income tax or PAYE call.
• Your Accounts Office reference or PAYE reference for an employer call.
• Paper and a pen. Note the name of the person you speak to and any reference number they give you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call HMRC from a mobile?

Yes. Your phone provider may add charges on top of the 002call rate, so check your provider's rate before you dial. The 002call rate is $0.02 / min.

Which number do I use if I employ someone?

Use the employer helpline, +44 151 268 0558. Do not use the income tax line for employer questions. HMRC lists a separate number for employers who employ non-UK expatriate staff, but that line has no outside-UK number, so it is not listed here.

What if the line is closed?

The lines above are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and are closed on bank holidays. If you call outside those hours, try again on the next working day.

Direct Cost Comparisons for Calling Options

Breakdown of Providers

Calls to the UK from overseas can cost more than you expect, depending on how you dial:

• Carrier roaming: $0.50 - $2.00 / min, depending on the carrier, plus monthly and hidden charges.
• Hotel room phones: a hotel landline can add administrative markups on top of the standard call rate.
• 002call: a flat $0.02 / min, with no hotel markup.

Why 002call is the smart way to call

Roaming and hotel phone charges are hard to predict until the bill arrives. 002call gives you one flat rate that you can see before you dial. Start from 002call to see the rate first.

Numbers and hours from HMRC's GOV.UK contact pages: Self Assessment general enquiries, Self Assessment payments, Self Assessment online technical support, Income Tax and PAYE, employers general enquiries and GOV.UK call charges, checked 12 October 2026. HMRC does not name a time zone for these hours. Rates from 002call's published rate table.