Hi

Does anyone know how I can get Self Assessment Agent Reference Number?

I have phoned up 4 different departments of the Inland Revenue and none of them had a clue and did not even know what this was.

Does anyone have this sort of bother with Inland Revenue. I phoned them up the other day with a simple enquiry and they said that maybe someone would be able to answer this in 9 days time if I left my details with them.

Alison
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Hi Alison
You are looking for a mythical creature called an Agent Maintainer. Mythical because some HMRC staff don't even know they exist. However, they do, and once you get their number, do not lose it! you can try calling your local HMRC office and asking to be put through to the AM, though as I said some HMRC staff don't know what an AM is. I have the AM number for my local office (Wiltshire) so you may be able to make progress that way. PM me and I'll give you the number when I'm back in the office tomorrow. :)

Alternatively, in the meantime, get a form 64-8 for someone (friend/ family if you don't have a client for this purpose). Send in the 64-8 and on the bottom of the left hand side, under agent reference put TBA or something.
Wait for a few weeks for CAAT to authorise the form, then call up to talk to HMRC about the client. Once you've gone through security, ask them what your agent reference is. I believe this is how I found out my ref number many years ago.

Good luck! oh, and search AccountingWeb for this topic, it comes up a lot and there are some other solutions on there I can'f think of at present.

Jenni :)
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Use the Agents part of the HMRC web site:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/agents/started.htm

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/agents/authorisation.htm

Also HMRC are introducing agent contact lines - we have one for Merseyside and Cheshire. Very helpful.

Here are the ones set up so far:

Cardiff area (including Newport and Llandrindrod Wells): Adrian Jones Tel 02920 326105
Glasgow area (including Paisley, Greenock, Gourock, Motherwell, Airdrie and Hamilton): Bob Gilchrist Tel 01355 275897
Manchester area (including Stockport, Bolton, Bury and Blackburn): Christine Hiscox Tel 0161 261 3761
Newcastle area (including Darlington, Carlisle, Sunderland, Durham, postcodes DH1-DH9 and Berwick upon Tweed, postcode TD15): Stewart Wight Tel 0191 383 7047.
Liverpool area (including Chester): Dave Stewart Tel 0151 300 1575



From this link:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/agents/contacting-effective.htm
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I appiled online as Elaine suggested. A lot easier than having to talk to someone!
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