Guide
HMRC scam calls: how to tell, and where to report them
Facts checked · 5 min read · Sources
The call says you owe tax and will be arrested today unless you pay. Or it says you are due a refund and only need to confirm your bank details. Both are old scripts, and both borrow HMRC’s name because a letter from the taxman is the one message almost nobody ignores.
What HMRC says it will never do
HMRC’s own guidance on GOV.UK says it will never:
- send a notification of a tax rebate, or ask for personal or payment information, by text message;
- use social media to offer a tax rebate or to ask for personal or financial information;
- email you about a tax rebate or ask for sensitive details from an address that does not end in hmrc.gov.uk.
A caller who threatens immediate arrest, demands payment the same day, or wants payment by gift card, voucher or cryptocurrency is not how a tax office collects a debt. Hang up, and if you are worried you owe something, sign in to your HMRC account on GOV.UK or use the contact details published there.
Where to report each kind of contact
| It arrived as | Report it to |
|---|---|
| A phone call | HMRC’s report a suspicious HMRC phone call form |
| A text message | Forward it to 60599 (charged at your network rate, says GOV.UK), and to 7726 |
| An email | Forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk |
| A social media account | branddefence@hmrc.gov.uk |
| You lost money | Your bank first, then Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or Police Scotland on 101 |
The number looked genuine
It may have been. Caller ID can show any number the scammer types in, including one that really is HMRC’s. The rules phone companies now follow block much of that when the call comes from abroad, but not all of it; see caller ID spoofing. Treat the content of the call as the evidence, not the number.
Warn the next person
Look the number up to see whether other people have reported the same script, then add your report. Write what the caller said rather than who you think they were; that is what helps the next person recognise it.
Questions people ask
Does HMRC phone people?
HMRC does contact people by phone about tax matters, which is why its name is borrowed. It says it will never send a tax rebate notification by text or ask for personal or payment details by text, social media or an email not ending in hmrc.gov.uk. HMRC also says it will never threaten arrest or ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers, so a caller who does either is a scam.
How do I report a fake HMRC phone call?
Use HMRC's online form 'Report a suspicious HMRC phone call' on GOV.UK. Forward texts to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If you lost money, tell your bank and report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101.
How can I check whether I really owe HMRC money?
Hang up and sign in to your HMRC online account on GOV.UK, or use the contact details published on GOV.UK. Do not use a number the caller gave you.
Check the number that called you
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Sources
- GOV.UK: Identify HMRC-related scam phone calls, emails and text messages
- GOV.UK: Report suspicious HMRC emails, texts, social media accounts and phone calls
- GOV.UK: Phishing and bogus emails, HMRC examples
- City of London Police: Report Fraud
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.