HMRC Scam Calls/Texts/Emails & How to Deal With Them

HMRC scam calls, texts, and emails are fraudulent attempts to impersonate the UK tax office and steal your personal info, bank details, or money. 

If you’ve had a call warning of arrest or a text asking for your details, don’t act on it. HMRC will never get in touch either of these ways.

HMRC scams have reached new highs in 2026, with scammers using increasingly convincing methods to get their way. These methods vary, ranging from simple WhatsApp messages to automated calls with realistic AI-generated voices.

This guide explains how HMRC scams work, how to recognise them, and what to do if one lands in your inbox or gets through to your phone. 

Key points

• Learn the warning signs for HMRC scams 🚨
  HMRC will never threaten you with arrest or demand immediate payment over the phone. They also won't ask for your bank details, passwords, or Government Gateway login via an unexpected text, email, or call.
• Scammers use many different channels 📱
  Fake HMRC messages can arrive by phone, text, email, social media, WhatsApp, or even mail. They often claim you owe tax or are due a refund to pressure you into acting quickly.
• Report suspicious messages straight away 🛡️
  Don't click links or reply. Forward scam texts to 60599, and phishing emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If you've shared financial details with the scammer, contact your bank immediately and report the incident.
• Check your tax position regularly ✅
  Knowing what you owe, or whether you're expecting a refund, makes it much easier to spot fake HMRC communications. If something doesn't match your records, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it.
• Use ANNA to stay one step ahead 🚀
  ANNA helps you keep accurate bookkeeping records, track your tax estimates, store receipts, and file your Self Assessment with HMRC. Having your finances organised means you can quickly tell when a tax demand or refund message just doesn't add up.

What the official numbers show

The tax office received more than 135,500 reports of suspected scams between February and December 2025, including 4,800 tied specifically to Self Assessment. Bogus tax refund scams alone accounted for around 29,000 of those reports.

HMRC has also logged more than 25,000 scam referrals linked to Winter Fuel Payment recovery texts and calls in the 12 months up to April 2026. Scammers tend to latch onto whatever process is happening to millions of people at once. 

The pattern is the same every year. Reports spike the most around the Self Assessment deadline and whenever HMRC reaches out to taxpayers about matters such as payment recovery or a rebate.

How HMRC scams work 

HMRC scams rely on making you panic and act before you think. Their delivery has become more convincing over time.

Here are the main methods scammers have been using recently:

Phone calls

The most common scam right now is an automated call claiming HMRC is filing a lawsuit against you or that your National Insurance number has been suspended due to fraud. 

A recorded voice asks you to press 1 to speak to a caseworker, then pushes you toward an urgent payment. Some of these calls use AI voice cloning, so they sound polished rather than robotic.

Scammers can also spoof caller ID to make it appear as if HMRC is calling. 

Texts

Until recently, any text claiming to be from HMRC was a scam. 

But since 27 April 2026, that's no longer true. HMRC sends texts in specific situations, for example after you've called certain helplines, or as a reminder about a payment.

Scam texts usually include a link and ask you to enter personal or financial details on the page it directs you to. Some dangle a refund as bait, telling you to click through and hand over your information to claim it. 

Emails

Phishing emails closely mimic HMRC's branding, often referencing a P800 calculation or a tax rebate, and include a link to a fake Government Gateway login page. 

Some carry attachments disguised as Self Assessment documents that install malware when opened. 

A genuine tax refund will always appear in your Personal Tax Account rather than arrive as an email attachment you need to open and act on.

WhatsApp and social media

Scammers have been setting up fake HMRC accounts on WhatsApp, X, Facebook, and Instagram, often using an official-looking profile picture. 

They may message you claiming there's an issue with your tax account, you’ve been issued a penalty, or you're due a refund, and try to draw you into a conversation about your tax affairs. 

QR codes

Some scams hide behind a QR code embedded in a fake letter, text, or email. Scanning it takes you to a page that asks you to enter personal or payment details, something a genuine HMRC QR code will never do. 

How to spot an HMRC scam

Look out for messages you weren't expecting, especially if they create a sense of urgency or pressure you to act immediately. 

Requests for passwords, bank details, or payment through an unfamiliar link or QR code are also warning signs. 

💡 Did you know? 

ANNA's Auto Accountant keeps your income, expenses, and tax position visible in one place. So if a ‘you owe HMRC £1,200’ text lands out of nowhere, you can check your actual numbers in seconds and identify the scam early.

What genuine HMRC communication looks like

If you get a suspicious message, check whether it matches those HMRC usually sends to identify whether it’s a scam. 

Here’s a quick look at how HMRC usually communicates:

🧠 Good to know: 

You can check whether a call, text or email is genuine using HMRC's list of verified contact examples. It's updated regularly and covers the exact wording of current scam messages circulating.

How to report an HMRC scam call, text, or email

If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from HMRC, report it as soon as possible. 

Here's what you need to do:

• Don't click, reply, or call back: Even replying ‘STOP’ can confirm your number is active
• Take screenshots: Make sure you have evidence of the message, or jot down the call details, including the number shown
• Forward scam texts to 60599: This goes straight to HMRC's security team, and standard network rates apply
• Forward scam emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. If possible, forward the email without changing the subject line
• Report social media or WhatsApp scams: You can take a screenshot and email phishing@hmrc.gov.uk with the details

After you report the scam attempt, you can then delete the call, text, or email. 

What to do if you've already responded

If you've clicked a link, downloaded an attachment, or shared bank details, you should act quickly. 

Here’s what you need to do:

• Contact your bank straight away if you've shared any card or account details
• Report the scam to Action Fraud, or Police Scotland on 101 if you're in Scotland
• Change any passwords you might've entered on a fake login page
• Tell HMRC's security team what happened so they can flag your account for extra checks if needed

Even if you're unsure whether any information was compromised, it's still a good idea to report the incident. Your bank, HMRC, and Action Fraud can advise you on any additional steps to take based on what happened. 

How ANNA can help you identify HMRC scams

Being aware of your actual tax position is one of the best defences against HMRC scams. 

When you already know what you owe or what you're due back, a threatening call or a too-good-to-be-true refund text won’t fool you – because you know the numbers don't add up. 

Here's how ANNA helps you avoid scams:

• Automatic bookkeeping: Your income and expenses update on their own, so you're never caught guessing what you owe
• Tax estimates: You can see what HMRC expects from you well before any deadline lands
• Receipt capture: Snap a photo of a receipt, and ANNA files it with the right expense, so nothing gets lost when you need proof
• Corporation Tax support: Stay on top of your Corporation Tax obligations with reminders, organised financial records, and everything you need to prepare for filing
• VAT support: Track VAT automatically, create MTD-compatible VAT Returns, and submit them directly to HMRC without the manual admin
• Free Self Assessment filing: ANNA helps you file directly with HMRC, so you're not relying on a random link to sort your return
• 24/7 support: Help is there whenever a suspicious message catches you off guard, day or night

Open an ANNA account today, and stay safe from HMRC scams.