Self assessment taxpayers should guard against being targeted by fraudsters as more than 10,000 websites attempt to defraud individuals, warns HMRC

In the 12 months to August 2022, HMRC responded to more than 180,000 referrals of suspicious contact from the public, of which almost 81,000 were scams offering fake tax rebates.

They have also responded to 55,386 reports of phone scams in total, 87% down on the previous year. In April 2020 HMRC received reports of only 425 phone scams. In August 2022 this was 5,913, while it received reports of 10,565 malicious web pages for takedown.

Criminals claiming to be from HMRC have targeted individuals by email, text and phone with their communications ranging from offering bogus tax rebates to threatening arrest for tax evasion. Contacts like these should sound alarm bells – HMRC would never call threatening arrest.

Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be from HMRC in a way that arouses suspicion is advised to check the scams advice on gov.uk.

Taxpayers can report any suspicious activity to HMRC by forwarding suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Any tax scam phone calls can be reported to HMRC using the online form on gov.uk.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, said: ‘Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.

‘HMRC will never ring up threatening arrest. Only criminals do that.

‘Tax scams come in many forms. Some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check ‘HMRC scams advice’ on gov.uk.’

Fraudsters target taxpayers when they know they are more likely to be in contact with HMRC, which is why anyone completing self assessment tax returns should be extra vigilant to this activity. There is a risk they could be taken in by scam texts, emails or calls either offering a ‘refund’ or demanding unpaid tax, thinking that they are genuine HMRC communications referring to their self assessment return.

HMRC warned that some taxpayers who have not done a self assessment return before might be tricked into clicking on links in these emails or texts and revealing personal or financial information to criminals.

The deadline for filing paper tax returns for the 2021-22 tax year is 31 October 2022, and 31 January 2023 for those filing their tax return online. Taxpayers who file their return online via gov.uk should not share their HMRC login details. Someone using the details could steal from the taxpayer or make a fraudulent claim in their name.

HMRC is actively tackling the scams and fraudsters who attempt to mimic genuine HMRC activity and messages. The department’s dedicated customer protection team works continuously to identify and close down scams.

HMRC also tackles misleading websites designed to make people pay for services that should be free or low cost, charging to connect people to free HMRC phone helplines. To protect the public, HMRC formally disputes and takes ownership of HMRC-branded internet domain or website names. Since 2017, the department has recovered more than 183 websites hosting low-value services such as call-connection sites, saving the public millions of pounds.

Over the last year the tax authority has also worked with the telecoms industry and Ofcom to remove 48 phone numbers being used to commit HMRC-related phone scams.

HMRC is warning self assessment taxpayers to be on their guard following the tax return deadline after more than 570,000 scams were reported to HMRC in the last year

At this time of year, self assessment taxpayers are at increased risk of falling victim to scams. They can be taken in by scam texts, emails or calls either offering a ‘refund’ or demanding unpaid tax, thinking that they are genuine HMRC communications referring to their self assessment return.

Criminals try and steal money or personal information, using phone calls, texts and emails to try and dupe citizens, and often mimic government messages to make them appear authentic.

In the 12 months to January 2022, nearly 220,000 scams reported to HMRC offered bogus tax rebates. The tax authority responded to 572,423 referrals of suspicious contact from the public.

There were also hundreds of telephone numbers identified as faking HMRC to try to scam taxpayers. HMRC has been working with the telecoms industry and Ofcom to remove more than 920 phone numbers being used to commit HMRC-related phone scams.

The number of phone scams has escalated in the last year with 267,671 reports of phone scams in the last year. In April 2020 HMRC received reports of only 425 phone scams while by January 2022 this had soared to 3,995.

The internet is another minefield with more than 6,160 malicious web pages taken down over the 12-month period.

The various government covid schemes also provided fertile territory for fraudsters. Since March 2020, HMRC detected 463 Covid-related financial scams, mostly disseminated by text message and it worked with internet service providers to take down 443 Covid-related scam web pages.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, said: ‘If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.

‘Never let yourself be rushed, and if you’re in any doubt then check our ‘HMRC scams’ advice on gov.uk.’

Following the extension of the self assessment deadline to 28 February 2022, taxpayers have until 1 April to pay their outstanding tax bill or set up a time to pay arrangement to avoid receiving a late payment penalty. Interest has been applied to all outstanding balances since 1 February.

Taxpayers should report suspicious phone calls using the form on gov.uk and forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.

HMRC has a dedicated team working on cyber and phone crimes. They use innovative technologies to prevent misleading and malicious communications from ever reaching the taxpayer. Since 2017, these technical controls have intercepted 500 million emails. More recently, new controls have prevented 90% of the most convincing SMS messages from reaching the public and controls have been applied to prevent spoofing of most HMRC helpline numbers.

HMRC is also reminding people to double check websites and online forms before using them to complete their 2020/21 tax return. People can be taken in by misleading websites designed to make them pay for help in submitting tax returns or charging to connect them to HMRC phone lines.

HMRC’s advice to the public:

Stop:

• Take a moment to think before parting with your money or information.
• If a phone call, text or email is unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links before checking on gov.uk that the contact is genuine.
• Do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed.

Challenge:

• It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests – only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
• Search ‘scams’ on gov.uk for information on how to recognise genuine HMRC contact and how to avoid and report scams.

Protect:

• Forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Report tax scam phone calls on gov.uk.  

Time is running out for the 1.5 million taxpayers who still need to file their self assessment tax return and avoid a £100 penalty, HMRC has warned

HMRC extended the deadline for completing 2020/21 tax returns to 28 February, deferring late filing penalties for a second year.

About 12.2m taxpayers are expected to file a tax return for 2020/21 tax year and more than 10.2 million were received by 31 January. This still leaves 1.5m tax returns which need to be completed.

HMRC has given taxpayers until 1 April to pay their outstanding tax bill or set up a time to pay arrangement to avoid receiving a late payment penalty. Interest has been applied to all outstanding balances since 1 February.

The existing Time to Pay service allows any individual or business who needs it, the option to spread their tax payments over time. Self assessment taxpayers with up to £30,000 of tax debt can do this online once they have filed their return. Almost 100,000 people have used this service since April last year, spreading the cost of their tax bill into manageable monthly instalments.

For anyone who owes more than £30,000, or needs longer to pay, they should call the self assessment payment helpline on 0300 200 3822.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, said: ‘There is one week left to complete your tax return if you haven’t done so already. And for anyone who is worried about paying their tax bill, there is support available – search ‘pay my self assessment’ on gov.uk.”

From 22 February, taxpayers will be able to make self assessment payments quickly and securely through the HMRC app either connecting to their bank to make their payments or pay by direct debit, personal debit card or corporate/commercial credit/debit card.

The 2020/21 tax return covers earnings and payments during the pandemic. Taxpayers need to declare Covid-19 grants and support payments up to 5 April 2021 on their self assessment, as these are taxable, including:

• Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS);
• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; and
• other COVID-19 grants and support payments such as self-isolation payments, local authority grants and those for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme

The £500 one-off payment for working households receiving tax credits should not be reported in self assessment.

Kevin Sefton, CEO of untied, said: ‘We urge affected taxpayers to take control of their tax returns now to avoid adding an extra £100 to their tax bill.  Even if individuals think they have a reasonable excuse for filing late, it’s still best to file returns as soon as you can possibly do so and then contact HMRC later about appealing any penalty.’

HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. It is important to always type in the full online address www.gov.uk/hmrc to get the correct link for filing their self assessment return online securely and free of charge. HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department. If you’re in doubt, do not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but contact HMRC straight away and search gov.uk for ‘HMRC scams’.

As HMRC prepares to send emails and text reminders to self assessment taxpayers, the department is reminding them to be on their guard after nearly 800,000 tax-related scams were reported in the last year

Fraudsters use self assessment to try and steal money or personal information from unsuspecting individuals. In the last year alone, HMRC has responded to 797,010 referrals of suspicious contact from the public and some 357,567 of these offered bogus tax rebates.

In the last 12 months, HMRC has also worked with the telecoms industry and Ofcom to remove more than 1,282 phone numbers being used to commit HMRC-related phone scams.

The scale of the problem is vast with 8,561 malicious web pages reported for takedown.

The self assessment deadline is 31 January 2022 and taxpayers may expect to hear from HMRC at this time of year.

More than four million emails and SMS will be issued this week to self assessment customers pointing them to guidance and support, prompting them to think about how they intend to pay their tax bill, and to seek support if they are unable to pay in full by 31 January.

However, the department is also warning customers to not be taken in by malicious emails, phone calls or texts, thinking that these are genuine HMRC communications referring to their self assessment tax return.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC director general for customer services, said: ‘Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.

‘HMRC will also never ring up threatening arrest. Only criminals do that.

‘Scams come in many forms. Some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a tax rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so if you are in any doubt whether the email, phone call or text is genuine, you can check the ‘HMRC scams’ advice on gov.uk and find out how to report them to us.’

Criminals use emails, phone calls and text messages to try and dupe individuals, and often mimic government messages to make them appear authentic. They want to trick their victims into handing over money or personal or financial information.

Customers can report suspicious phone calls using a form on gov.uk and should forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599.

HMRC has a dedicated team working on cyber and phone crimes. They use innovative technologies to prevent misleading and malicious communications from ever reaching the taxpayers. Since 2017 these technical controls have blocked 500 million emails. More recently, new controls have prevented 90% of the most convincing SMS messages from reaching the public and controls have been applied to prevent spoofing of most HMRC helpline numbers.

HMRC is also reminding self assessment customers to double check websites and online forms before using them to complete their 2020/21 tax return. People can be taken in by misleading websites designed to make them pay for help in submitting tax returns or charging to connect them to HMRC phone lines.

HMRC’s advice to the public:

Stop:

•            take a moment to think before parting with your money or information;

•            if a phone call, text or email is unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links before checking on gov.uk that the contact is genuine; and

•            do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed.

Challenge:

•            it’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests – only criminals will try to rush or panic you; and

•            search ‘scams’ on gov.uk for information on how to recognise genuine HMRC contact and how to avoid and report scams.

Protect:

•            Forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Report tax scam phone calls on gov.uk.

•            Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, and report it to Action Fraud (in Scotland, contact the police on 101).