Key takeaways
- HMRC's Extra Support team helps people whose health condition or personal circumstances make it difficult to deal with HMRC.
- The Extra Support webchat is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7:30pm, and Saturday, 8am to 4pm, and is closed on bank holidays.
- There is no direct phone number for the team; call the usual HMRC helpline, explain what you need, and the adviser will transfer you.
- Since 19 January 2026 the team's webchat covers Corporation Tax, alongside Self Assessment, PAYE, National Insurance, Child Benefit and CIS.
- The team can give you more time to meet a deadline, help with forms, information in other formats, and home visits.
- If you cannot use a phone, dial 18001 then the HMRC number for Relay UK, or use HMRC's SignVideo service for British Sign Language.
- If you are in a compliance check, ask the compliance officer named in your letter for extra time, not the Extra Support team.
HMRC’s Extra Support team helps people whose health condition or personal circumstances make it hard to deal with HMRC, for example through mental ill health, dyslexia, financial hardship or domestic abuse. It can give more time, help with forms and arrange home visits. Reach it through its webchat or by asking any HMRC helpline adviser to transfer you.
Who can get extra support from HMRC?
You can get extra support if a health condition or your personal circumstances make it difficult to contact HMRC or deal with your tax. GOV.UK’s extra support guide gives these examples:
- dyslexia, autism or cognitive difficulties
- reduced mobility, or physical or sensory disabilities
- mental health conditions, such as depression, stress or anxiety
- financial hardship, such as being laid off
- domestic abuse, including economic abuse
- being in hospital
For more time, HMRC says you may need to show why you need it.
How do you contact the Extra Support team?
There is no direct phone number for the team. You reach it in one of three ways.
- Call the usual HMRC helpline for your tax, such as Self Assessment or PAYE. Tell the adviser what help you need and ask to be transferred to the Extra Support team.
- Use the Extra Support webchat. First check you are eligible through the online checker; if the team can help, you are passed to an adviser when one is free.
- Use British Sign Language through HMRC’s SignVideo service, or ask for a home visit using the online form.
Have your National Insurance number ready before you start. Our HMRC telephone numbers list has every helpline.
Extra Support webchat hours
The webchat is open longer than most HMRC phone lines. These are the hours on the Extra Support Team contact page, checked on 6 November 2026.
| Day | Webchat hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8am to 7:30pm |
| Saturday | 8am to 4pm |
| Sunday and bank holidays | Closed |
What topics does the team cover?
The webchat covers a set list of taxes and schemes. HMRC updated the page on 19 January 2026 to add Corporation Tax.
- Child Benefit
- Construction Industry Scheme
- Corporation Tax
- Horizon Shortfall Scheme
- National Insurance
- PAYE and tax for employers
- Self Assessment
- Simple Assessment
For anything outside the list, use the relevant helpline. HMRC also asks you to use another line if you do not need extra support because of your condition or circumstances.
What help can the Extra Support team give?
The team can change how HMRC deals with you, rather than change the tax you owe. GOV.UK lists six types of help.
| Help | What it means |
|---|---|
| A different way to contact HMRC | Relay UK, textphone, webchat, BSL |
| Information in a different format | A format that suits your needs |
| Help filling in forms | Support with HMRC forms and returns |
| More time | Extra time for a deadline or on a call |
| Another language | Information in a language you understand |
| Someone to talk to HMRC for you | A friend, relative or adviser |
HMRC’s principles of support, updated on 5 October 2026, add that HMRC can refer you to voluntary organisations and tax charities for independent advice.
Asking for more time
The team can give you more time to meet a deadline or more time on the phone. GOV.UK’s more time page says you can ask if you have a mental health condition, a visual impairment, dyslexia, financial difficulties, hospital treatment or domestic abuse.
Someone else can ask for you if you are in hospital. Extra time is not the same as a penalty appeal; if you have already missed a deadline, see our guide to reasonable excuse for HMRC penalties.
If you cannot pay a tax bill, the debt management team deals with payment plans. See Time to Pay arrangements.
If you cannot use a phone
HMRC offers several ways to make contact without a standard call. These come from GOV.UK’s cannot use a telephone page.
- Relay UK: dial 18001, then the HMRC number, for example 18001 0300 200 3300 for Income Tax
- Textphone: available on some helplines
- Webchat: the Extra Support webchat
- British Sign Language: HMRC’s SignVideo services for extra support and for debt management
- Home visit or face-to-face meeting: fill in the online request form and email it to HMRC
Which applies to you?
- If you are struggling with a tax return or form, ask for help filling it in.
- If a deadline is close and your health or situation is the reason, ask for more time before it passes.
- If you are in a compliance check, contact the compliance officer named in your letter; webchat is not available for this.
- If you cannot sign in to an online account, use the HMRC online services helpdesk.
- If a friend or relative should deal with HMRC for you, appoint them through GOV.UK, or see our guide to authorising an agent with HMRC.
What advisers should do
- Ask clients early. Check at onboarding whether a client may need extra support.
- Ask before the deadline. Raise the request while the client is still in time.
- Note the call. Record the date, the adviser’s name and what HMRC agreed.
- Get authority in place. Make sure you or a family member is authorised to speak for the client.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HMRC Extra Support team?
It is a specialist HMRC team for people whose health condition or circumstances make dealing with HMRC hard. It can give extra time, help with forms and other ways to make contact.
What is the HMRC Extra Support team phone number?
There is no direct number. Call the helpline for your tax, explain what help you need, and the adviser will transfer you to the team.
What are the Extra Support webchat opening hours?
Monday to Friday, 8am to 7:30pm, and Saturday, 8am to 4pm. It is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Can HMRC give me more time because of my health?
Yes. HMRC can give more time to meet a deadline if a health condition or your circumstances make it hard. You may need to show why you need it.
Can HMRC visit me at home?
Yes. You can request a home visit or face-to-face meeting using HMRC’s online form, then email it to HMRC.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.