HMRC scam calls, texts and emails: how to check

If you have already given details or paid, go straight to what to do if you gave details or money.

How do I know if HMRC is really contacting me?

GOV.UK says a tax-related contact could be a scam if it:

• rushes you
• is threatening
• is unexpected
• asks for personal information such as bank details
• tells you to transfer money
• offers a refund, tax rebate or grant

HMRC publishes a list of the genuine contacts it currently sends, by phone, text, email and letter. If what you have received is not on that list, or it asks for something the list says HMRC won't ask for, treat it as a scam. The safest check is always to leave the message alone and go to your tax account or HMRC's contact details on GOV.UK yourself.

Is this HMRC phone call a scam?

HMRC does phone people, for example about debts, and may call from 0300 200 3884. It says those calls will never ask for personal or financial information during the call.

HMRC also says it will never:

• leave a voicemail threatening legal action
• threaten arrest

The automated "press 1" call

HMRC warns about an automated call that says HMRC is filing a lawsuit against you and tells you to press 1 to speak to a caseworker and make a payment. HMRC says this is a scam and you should end the call immediately.

Other scam calls HMRC describes mention "National Insurance number fraud", or offer a tax refund and ask for your bank or card details.

What to do: hang up. Don't press any keys and don't call back on a number the caller gives you. If you are worried about a real tax debt, check your HMRC online account or use the contact details on GOV.UK. Then report the call with HMRC's Report a suspicious HMRC phone call (opens in a new tab) form.

Is this HMRC text a scam?

HMRC does send texts, for example to confirm it has received a form or claim, about Child Benefit, or about a P800 tax refund when you haven't replied to the letter. HMRC's own texts may show "HM Revenue and Customs" as the sender, and any links go to GOV.UK information or HMRC webchat.

What HMRC says it will never do by text:

• ask for personal or financial information
• send a notification of a tax rebate that asks you to disclose personal or payment information

So a text that offers you a refund and wants your bank details, card details or a login is a scam. HMRC's advice is not to open any links or reply to it.

What to do: forward the text to 60599 (charged at your network rate), then delete it. You can also forward it to 7726, the free scam-reporting number run by the mobile networks.

Is this HMRC email a scam?

HMRC emails people about things like Annual Tax Summaries, P800 refunds, VAT, Child Benefit and Making Tax Digital. It says these emails will never ask you for personal or financial information.

HMRC also says it will only ever email you about a tax rebate, or ask for personal or payment information, from an address that ends in hmrc.gov.uk. A "tax rebate" email from any other address is fake. Even when the address looks right, don't use links in an unexpected email to log in: go to GOV.UK yourself.

What to do: forward the email to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, then delete it. For scam emails about anything else, the National Cyber Security Centre's address is report@phishing.gov.uk.

Our guide to telling if an email is a scam explains how to check a sender and a link.

Is this HMRC letter real?

HMRC's GOV.UK guidance lists its genuine letters by reference number (for example IDMS99, about an overdue payment), with what each one says. It also warns that if you are then asked to send information to an email address that does not end in "hmrc.gov.uk", the request is not genuine and you should report it to HMRC.

If a letter surprises you, look it up on that list or contact HMRC using the details on GOV.UK, not the phone number or address printed in the letter.

Does HMRC contact people on social media or WhatsApp?

• Social media: HMRC says it will never use social media to offer a tax rebate or ask for personal or financial information. It has warned about scam direct messages offering refunds. Send details of a suspicious account to branddefence@hmrc.gov.uk.
• WhatsApp: HMRC says that apart from the occasional one-way alerts on the UK government's WhatsApp channel, it will not contact you through WhatsApp.
• Customs Duty: HMRC also warns about a text and email scam that says you must pay Customs Duty to receive a valuable parcel that does not exist. See our guide to parcel delivery scam texts.

How do I report an HMRC scam?

Reporting helps even if you didn't fall for it.

What to do if you gave details or money

1. Bank or card details: call your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, or on 159, which connects you to your own bank. 159 never calls you.
2. Personal information such as your National Insurance number: GOV.UK says you can report the disclosure to HMRC's security team.
3. Lost money: report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk (opens in a new tab) or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.
4. Typed a password into a fake page: change it now, and anywhere else you use it. Our guide to what to do if you clicked a scam link takes you through each case.

Not sure about a message? Paste it into our free Scam Check. It runs in your browser and nothing you paste is stored.

Common questions

Does HMRC ever text about a tax refund?

HMRC can text about a P800 tax refund, for example when you haven't replied to the letter, but it says its texts will never ask for personal or financial information. A text that offers a refund in exchange for your bank or card details is a scam, and HMRC says not to open the link or reply. Forward it to 60599.

Is the HMRC "press 1" lawsuit call real?

No. HMRC warns about an automated call that says HMRC is filing a lawsuit against you and asks you to press 1 to speak to a caseworker and make a payment. HMRC says this is a scam and you should end the call immediately. HMRC also says it will never threaten arrest or leave a voicemail threatening legal action.

What number does HMRC call from?

HMRC's GOV.UK guidance says it may call from 0300 200 3884, and that its calls will never ask for personal or financial information. A familiar-looking number is not proof on its own, so if a call worries you, hang up and contact HMRC using the details on GOV.UK.

How do I report a fake HMRC email or text?

Forward suspicious HMRC emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and suspicious texts to 60599 (charged at your network rate), then delete them. Suspicious phone calls are reported through HMRC's online "Report a suspicious HMRC phone call" form, and suspicious social media accounts to branddefence@hmrc.gov.uk.

I gave my bank details to an HMRC scam. What now?

Call your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, or on 159, so it can protect your account. If you have lost money, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040, or to Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland. You can also report the disclosure of your personal information to HMRC's security team.

Related guides

• Is this DVLA text or email real?
• Parcel delivery scam texts
• TV Licensing scam texts and emails
• How to tell if a text message is a scam

Sources

• Identify tax scam phone calls, emails and text messages — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Report suspicious HMRC emails, texts, social media accounts and phone calls — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Reporting fraudulent emails — HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Examples of phishing emails, suspicious phone calls and texts — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Check if a phone call you've received from HMRC is genuine — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Check if a text message you've received from HMRC is genuine — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Check if an email you've received from HMRC is genuine — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Check if a letter you've received from HMRC is genuine — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Avoid and report internet scams and phishing — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Report a scam text message — National Cyber Security Centre (opens in a new tab)
• Stop, hang up, call 159 — Stop Scams UK (opens in a new tab)

Last checked: 25 September 2026