Tax Time to Pay Arrangements – HMRC Announce Mandatory Direct Debit

HMRC can use discretionary powers to agree to payment of a debt by instalments after the due date, where the customer is genuinely unable to pay by the due date and is able to commit to agreed payments to bring their tax up to date. 

Direct Debit has always been the preferred method of payment for any regular time to pay arrangement, however from 3 August 2015 payment by direct debit will be mandatory.

HMRC say that they are moving to direct debit by default because:

• It is more cost effective  and more secure than other payment methods
• It removes the chance that the customer will forget to make payment
• Payments are more likely to be correctly allocated
• Reduces the need for subsequent customer contact, saving time for the customer and HMRC
• Direct Debit scheme includes a guarantee to protect the customer

HMRC say that they recognise that there will be exceptional circumstances where a customer is unable to set up a direct debit, perhaps because their bank account will not allow it. In such cases payment by other methods may be agreed.

HMRC state that it is not their intention to routinely revisit any existing non-direct debit agreements however for any new agreements we will expect the customer to agree to payment by direct debit.