Small businesses that are struggling to meet outstanding tax bills due to unforeseen circumstances may be able to take advantage of a government scheme which allows them to defer payment.

HM Revenue & Customs 'time to pay' scheme allows companies to defer tax payments so that the money can be invested in their company.

"It's the small, self-employed, limited companies that use the time to pay scheme, because tax bills are usually paid in fairly lumpy amounts, and that's what hit people," said Bill Dodwell, head of the tax policy group for Deloitte.