With the self assessment filing deadline passing, this is also the time of year HMRC scams rise significantly.

Scammers impersonate HMRC to trick individuals and businesses into providing sensitive information, confirm bank details or to demand payment. These fraudulent activities involve emails, texts and phone calls claiming to be from HMRC, informing individuals and businesses that they are due a tax rebate, that they need to confirm personal or bank details, or that a payment is due. The messages and emails include a sense of urgency threatening legal action, fines or even arrest if immediate action is not taken. The scam emails and messages may include direct links to fake websites designed to harvest personal data and financial information. The websites may also infect computers, laptops and devices with ransomware. The scams can look highly convincing, often using HMRC’s branding, logo’s and other information that is used in genuine HMRC communications.

Genuine HMRC communications will never ask for sensitive personal information, bank details, or demand immediate payment through unconventional methods, such as cryptocurrency or PayPal. HMRC will also never threaten arrest. Genuine HMRC emails will only ever be from an email address which ends hmrc.gov.uk.

If you are ever unsure about communications from HMRC do not click any links, confirm any details, or reply to any emails or messages. You can contact HMRC directly to confirm the validity of any communications received, or please do not hesitate to contact us.

Suspicious emails can be forwarded to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

Suspicious text messages can be forwarded to 60599.