TBT CHECKS
HMRC says it never sends texts about tax refunds and never asks for personal or payment details in them. Nor does it offer tax refunds through social media.
HMRC sends emails about refunds or requesting personal or payment details only from addresses ending in hmrc.gov.uk. Any other message should be treated with suspicion.
The Self Assessment deadline for the 2025/26 tax year is 31 January 2027. In this period fraudsters particularly often impersonate HMRC, threatening penalties or tempting people with refunds.
Editorial comment
Many Polish sole traders in the UK file their own returns and are waiting for a tax refund, so a message about a “refund” sounds credible. The most dangerous are calls threatening arrest or an immediate penalty. HMRC does not work like that. Hang up and check your tax account yourself by signing in through gov.uk.
What to do
- Forward suspicious texts to 60599.
- Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and delete them.
- Report suspicious calls using the “Report a suspicious HMRC phone call” form on gov.uk.
- Report social media accounts impersonating HMRC to [email protected].
- Check your tax position only in your HMRC account, not through links in messages.
What do you think?
Have you come across a scam like this? What worked and what didn’t? Tell us in the comments below the article. We will cover the most interesting views in future editions.
Sources
© THE BUSINESS TIME / Argonauts Media Group Limited. Original editorial content. Copying, downloading and distribution without the publisher’s written consent are prohibited. Illustrative photo: Pexels.
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