HMRC - The Iron Fist is Coming Out of The Velvet Glove

As of December 2009, the Business Payment Support Service approved almost 250,000 time-to-pay arrangements worth almost £4.5 billion.

H.M. Revenue & Customs insists that the scheme will remain in place - but it is now dealing with more and more requests for repeat deferrals, so it is likely that the Department will take a tougher line, and that new deferrals will only be permitted for shorter periods and that there will be more stringent requirements to provide and adhere to repayment plans.

H.M. Revenue & Customs have also warned that action will now be taken against companies that default on time-to-pay agreements.
It is perhaps not surprising that the Department is tightening up. Time-to-pay arrangements are costing the Government tax revenues that it can't afford.

At the moment, it is still possible to come to an arrangement with HMRC if you are worried about being able to meet payments owed to it - or if you want to repeat deferral of payment.

But don't leave it too long to ask for either one...