We’ll help you find the right HMRC trust and estates contact number quickly, without sending you through the wrong queue.
When you are acting as a personal representative for a deceased person’s estate or managing a trust as a trustee, clear guidance matters. We explain which helpline is most relevant to your situation. The main lines to try are the Trusts and Deceased Estates Helpline and the Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline. Both use 0300 123 1072 (international: +44 300 123 1072).
Call preparation saves time. We set expectations about what can be resolved on the phone and what needs paperwork or online forms. That keeps your call focused and effective.
We flag common scenarios where the trusts and deceased estates route is right, and where you should instead use Self Assessment, Capital Gains, or online services. If VAT or other tax issues arise, we’ll note when you may need to be passed to a specialist service.
For quick next steps, see our practical guide at inheritance tax planning in Hambrook. Our aim is calm, step‑by‑step clarity so you can sort family admin with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Both main helplines use 0300 123 1072 (or +44 300 123 1072 from abroad).
- We tell you which helpline to call for a trust query or a deceased estate matter.
- Prepare documents — including estate or trust references, the Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), and dates of death — before calling to keep the call short.
- Some issues need to be directed to Self Assessment, Capital Gains or online services instead.
- VAT and other tax topics may need a specialist service.
HMRC trust and estates contact number for trustees and personal representatives
Personal representatives (executors or administrators) and trustees often need a single, reliable helpline to start the process. We list the lines most used and explain when to call so you reach the right team faster.
Trusts and Deceased Estates Helpline: 0300 123 1072
0300 123 1072 is the main point of contact for queries about estate administration, trust tax returns (SA900), estate income tax returns and what paperwork HMRC requires from you as a trustee or personal representative.
Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline: 0300 123 1072
The probate and IHT route uses the same contact number. This keeps calls simple — one helpline covers both probate-related queries and inheritance tax matters, including questions about IHT forms (IHT400, IHT205/IHT217) and reporting requirements. Remember, IHT is charged at 40% on the taxable estate above the nil rate band — currently £325,000 per person, frozen since 2009 and confirmed frozen until at least April 2031.
Calling from abroad: +44 300 123 1072
If you’re dealing with cross‑border affairs — perhaps the deceased lived overseas or there are trustees outside the UK — use +44 300 123 1072 so international callers can reach the same team without difficulty.
When to use this helpline for administration and returns
Ring this service for questions about an estate’s income tax position, capital gains events arising while administering assets, which trust or estate tax returns are due, and how to report inheritance tax.
- Which estate or trust tax returns are due and which tax years are involved.
- How to describe your query so the adviser routes you to the right team immediately.
- Which HMRC forms you’ll likely need — for example, the SA900 for trust income, or the IHT400 for inheritance tax reporting on estates valued above the nil rate band.
“Have the estate or trust reference number, date of death, National Insurance number of the deceased, and key financial figures ready before you dial — this saves considerable time.”
For wider planning or detailed inheritance tax advice see our inheritance tax guidance. Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the taxable estate above the nil rate band (currently £325,000 per person). A married couple can combine their nil rate bands — up to £650,000 — and if they pass a qualifying home to direct descendants, the residence nil rate band adds up to a further £350,000, bringing the potential combined threshold to £1,000,000. Getting the right advice early can make a significant difference.
Choosing the right HMRC helpline for your tax, return or payment query
Matching your query to the correct service cuts delays and avoids repeated calls. We list the main 0300 200 routes so you can pick the right one fast.
Self‑Assessment Helpline: 0300 200 3310
Use this line for help with personal tax returns, filing deadlines and general Self Assessment queries — including the deceased’s final personal tax return if that’s all you need. For callers from abroad use +44 161 931 9070.
Online Services Helpdesk: 0300 200 3600
If you can’t sign in to your Government Gateway account, get submission errors or see missing returns online, this is the right service. International callers use +44 161 930 8445.
Capital Gains and non‑resident income queries: 0300 200 3300
For capital gains questions — including disposals of property or shares during estate administration — and for non‑resident income tax or CGT matters, ring this line. An overseas option is +44 135 535 9022. Trusts currently pay CGT at 24% on residential property gains and 20% on other assets. The annual exempt amount for trusts is half the individual level — currently £1,500 — so gains can crystallise quickly. The helpline can confirm current rates and any applicable reliefs, including holdover relief on transfers into or out of certain trusts.
Child Benefit Helpline: 0300 200 3100
Personal representatives sometimes discover wider household issues when administering an estate. If child benefit matters arise — for example, updating records following a death — this is the route. International callers use +44 161 210 3086.
“Have your reference number, the relevant tax years and any applicable forms to hand before you dial. That avoids repeat calls and gets you answers faster.”
- Return queries: call Self‑Assessment on 0300 200 3310.
- Sign‑in or submission problems: use the Online Services Helpdesk on 0300 200 3600.
- Capital gains or non‑resident issues: call the CGT line on 0300 200 3300.
- Payments or allocation problems: confirm via the find contacts page at find HMRC contacts.
For agent guidance on registering or acting for a family trust with HMRC, see our practical notes at registering as an agent. Remember, all UK express trusts — including bare trusts — must be registered on the Trust Registration Service (TRS) within 90 days of creation, following the requirements of the 5th Money Laundering Directive. That page preps you for the questions each service will ask.
What to prepare before you contact HMRC about trusts, estates, probate or inheritance tax
Before you pick up the phone, gather a short pack of facts and documents so the call is quick and clear. A few minutes of preparation can save you being transferred or needing to call back.
Key details to have ready: reference, years, returns and payments
Write down the estate or trust Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), the Trust Registration Service (TRS) reference if applicable, and the date of death. These items let HMRC advisers pull the right record fast.
List the tax years involved, which returns you have filed (whether SA900 trust returns or estate administration returns) and any payments already made. Have forms and bank receipts to hand. A one‑line summary of your query helps the adviser route the call to the right specialist without delay.
Typical topics trustees raise: income, capital gains, IHT and timelines
Common questions cover trust income tax liability — trusts pay income tax at 45% on non-dividend income above the first £1,000 standard rate band, and 39.35% on dividend income — capital gains calculations on disposals of trust or estate assets, and inheritance tax reporting timelines. Inheritance tax on an estate must generally be paid within six months of the end of the month in which the death occurred — interest accrues after that point. If the estate contains a business, note any VAT registration details or corporation tax position so you can be directed to the right services if needed.
- Note the sums, tax years and reference numbers for each query.
- Keep copies of returns and relevant forms open while you’re on the phone.
- Log each call: date, time, number called, name of adviser if given, and the outcome or advice received.
| What to bring | Why it helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| UTR or estate reference & date of death | Locate the record quickly | Estate ref: 123/AB, 01/03/2024 |
| Tax years & returns filed | Confirm what HMRC can see on their system | 2023–24 SA900 trust return filed |
| Payment receipts | Resolve payment or repayment queries | Online payment reference or bank confirmation |
| TRS reference number | Confirm trust registration status | TRS ref from registration confirmation |
“A short checklist and a single-sentence question make calls far more productive. Plan, don’t panic.”
For bereavement queries use the dedicated bereavement and deceased estate enquiries page. For issues about setting up a trust — including Trust Registration Service obligations — see our guide on setting up a trust. Remember, a trust is not a legal entity — it is a legal arrangement where the trustees hold legal ownership of the assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Understanding this distinction can help you communicate more clearly with HMRC.
Conclusion
Here’s a short recap to help you make the next call with confidence.
For most executors and trustees, the fastest route is the Trusts and Deceased Estates / Probate and Inheritance Tax helpline on 0300 123 1072. If you’re abroad use +44 300 123 1072.
Match your query to the right helpline first. That saves precious time and stops you repeating details across multiple transfers.
Have references, dates, key sums and a one‑line summary ready before you dial. Good records are the quiet wins in estate and trust administration.
If the issue falls into another area of tax — including VAT, Self Assessment, or Capital Gains — switching to the correct helpline is often the quickest fix. Take it one step at a time. Having the right route is a solid first step and a real benefit for families navigating what can feel like a daunting process. If you’re unsure whether you need a trust in the first place, or want to understand how a trust could protect your family home from inheritance tax, care fees and other threats, we’re always happy to talk through your options. England invented trust law over 800 years ago — and when set up properly by a specialist, a trust remains one of the most effective ways to keep family wealth safe for generations.