Is this HMRC letter real? 7 checks
Updated: 2026-10-18
Check the letter against HMRC's list on GOV.UK, and contact HMRC using the details on GOV.UK, not the ones in the letter. HMRC never asks for bank details by text, email or phone.
What is this letter?
Scam letters, texts and emails can look very real. They use HMRC's name. They often say you will get a refund, or that you owe money and must pay fast.
A letter that is not on HMRC's list is not always fake. LITRG says: do not panic, it might still be genuine, but take extra care. The seven checks below help you decide. If you are still unsure, do not pay and do not click. Call HMRC yourself.
How much time do I have?
| Event | Counted from | How long | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter about an overdue amount (IDMS99) | Date of the letter | 28 days to pay or call | GOV.UK |
| Simple Assessment letter (IDMS99P) | Date of the letter | 28 days to pay or call, according to the HMRC letter checker page. Your letter may show a different date, so follow the date on it. See our Simple Assessment guide. | GOV.UK |
| Self Assessment repayment claim review | Date of the letter | 30 days to call if you disagree | GOV.UK |
| Letter VPCF1 (asks for information) | Date of the letter | 30 days to send eligibility information | GOV.UK |
| Any letter you are not sure about | The day you get it | No fixed time. Do not pay or reply until you have checked. | LITRG |
Scammers like pressure. A real deadline is printed on a real letter. A message that says pay today or you will be arrested is a warning sign.
What do I do, step by step?
- Compare your letter with HMRC's list of genuine letters on GOV.UK. A match is a good sign. No match is not proof of a scam, but take extra care.
- Look at any email address. HMRC emails about a tax rebate, or asking for personal or payment details, come only from an address ending in hmrc.gov.uk.
- Look at the phone number. If it is not the one on GOV.UK, that may be a warning sign.
- Check what it asks for. HMRC never asks for bank details by text, email or phone. It never asks for payment by gift card, voucher or QR code. It never sends a tax rebate notice by text.
- Notice the pressure. If it feels strange or too urgent, stop and check.
- Contact HMRC using the details on GOV.UK, not the ones in the letter. You can read out the reference number and the wording to the adviser.
- Report it. Forward scam emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599 (HMRC page). The national GOV.UK page says report@phishing.gov.uk and 7726. Then delete the message. For scam letters, see the GOV.UK page in the sources.
What letter should I send? (Ready-made letter)
If the letter is real, you may need to reply: dispute an amount, ask for time to pay, or ask HMRC to correct something. Send it in writing and keep a copy. If the letter is a scam, do not reply to it. Report it.
Record what happened, or send a photo of the letter. The explanation is free. A ready letter is £4.
What if the deadline has passed?
If you already paid or gave bank details to a scammer, call your bank now and ask them to stop the payment or freeze the account. Then report it. GOV.UK says that if you are in England or Wales and a victim of fraud, you can report online or call 0300 123 2040. Change any password you shared. If the letter turns out to be real and the date has passed, call HMRC using the number on GOV.UK.
Is it the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
HMRC is a UK-wide tax office, so these checks work in all four nations. The fraud reporting number on GOV.UK is given for England and Wales. In Scotland or Northern Ireland, check gov.uk for where to report fraud.
Frequently asked questions
What does HMRC never do?
HMRC never asks for bank details by text, email or phone, and never asks for payment by gift card, voucher or QR code.
Which email addresses are real?
For tax rebates or requests for personal or payment details, HMRC emails come only from an address ending in hmrc.gov.uk.
Can HMRC text me about a tax rebate?
No. HMRC says it never sends a tax rebate notice by text and never asks for personal or payment details by text.
Where do I report a scam?
Forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599. Use HMRC's online form for suspicious calls. See the GOV.UK pages in the sources.
My letter is not on the list. Is it fake?
Not always. Take extra care and contact HMRC using the details on GOV.UK.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Check if a letter from HMRC is genuine
- GOV.UK: HMRC, reporting fraudulent emails, texts and calls
- GOV.UK: Report scam HMRC contact
- LITRG: Is your HMRC letter genuine?
Checked on: 2026-10-17
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change. For your own case, check the sources above or ask a free adviser, for example Citizens Advice.