HMRC Scam Calls: How to Tell a Fake Call From the Real HMRC

Tax scam calls follow a script designed to scare you into acting fast: you owe tax, there's a warrant, pay now or the police are coming. They work because most people don't know how HMRC operates. Once you know what HMRC says it will never do, these calls are easy to spot. Here's the checklist, straight from GOV.UK, plus where to report a call.

What HMRC will never do

HMRC will never	What scammers do
Leave a voicemail threatening legal action	Automated messages saying legal action has started
Threaten arrest	Warn that police will come if you don't pay today
Ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers	Tell you to buy vouchers and read out the codes
Send a tax rebate notice or ask for personal or payment details by text	Message you a refund link
Take you to a page to input personal information from a QR code	Send QR codes to fake payment pages

Common HMRC scam calls

• The arrest threat. A recorded or live caller says you owe tax and will be arrested unless you pay immediately.
• The legal action voicemail. A message says proceedings have started and you must call back now.
• The voucher payment. You're told to settle a debt with gift cards or vouchers.
• The refund call. You're owed money and just need to confirm your bank details.

HMRC is explicit on the first three: it never threatens arrest, never leaves voicemails threatening legal action and never asks for payment in vouchers. On refunds, it never notifies a tax rebate by text, and only emails about one from an address ending in hmrc.gov.uk.

How to check if a call is real

1. End the call. You can't verify a caller while they're talking to you.
2. Check GOV.UK's official list of HMRC contacts to see whether that kind of contact is something HMRC does.
3. Look at your account yourself in the HMRC app or your online account. If there's a real issue, it'll be there.
4. If you still need to speak to HMRC, use a number from GOV.UK, not one the caller gave you.

How to report an HMRC scam call

Type of contact	Where to report it
Phone call	HMRC's 'Report a suspicious HMRC phone call' online service
Text message	Forward it to 60599 (network charges apply)
Email	Forward it to [email protected], then delete it
Social media account or message	Email [email protected]

Reporting helps HMRC close scams down. It says it may share the details you report with other organisations for that purpose.

If you've already given details or money

1. Tell your bank straight away if you shared card or bank details or made a payment.
2. Report sharing personal information to the HMRC security team.
3. If you lost money, report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland.
4. Change any passwords you gave out, starting with your HMRC sign-in and email.

Scam texts and emails that lead to a call

Many scam calls start with a message. A text says you're due a refund or owe tax and gives a number to ring. HMRC says it never sends notifications of a tax rebate by text, or asks for personal or payment information that way, and only emails about a rebate from an address ending in hmrc.gov.uk. So if a message pushes you to call a number about a refund, treat the number as part of the scam, and forward the message to 60599 or [email protected].

Helping older relatives

These calls often target people who are less used to dealing with HMRC online. A simple rule to share: HMRC won't threaten arrest, won't leave threatening voicemails and won't ask for vouchers, so any call that does should be ended straight away. Setting up the HMRC app for a relative also gives them a safe place to check what they really owe.

WhatsApp and QR codes

Two newer tricks to know. HMRC says it won't contact you on WhatsApp except for single-message alerts if you've subscribed to the UK Government Channel, which you can't reply to. And while HMRC letters do use QR codes, they usually take you to GOV.UK guidance, and HMRC says a QR code will never take you to a page where you have to enter personal information.

Why these scams spike around tax deadlines

Scam calls lean on timing. When people are expecting to hear from HMRC, around Self Assessment deadlines or after starting self-employment, a call about tax doesn't feel strange. That's exactly when the checklist matters most. HMRC's own position is simple: you can always hang up and check through the app or GOV.UK.

My verdict

Any call that threatens arrest, legal action by voicemail or payment in vouchers isn't HMRC. Hang up, check the HMRC app yourself, and report it so it can be shut down before it reaches someone else. Scams in other places follow the same playbook: see my PCH scam check and flight delay compensation in the UK for two more areas where fake claims are common.

Frequently asked questions

Does HMRC call people about unpaid tax?

HMRC can contact you, but it says it will never threaten arrest or leave a voicemail threatening legal action.

Can HMRC ask me to pay with gift cards?

No. HMRC says it will never ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers.

How do I report an HMRC scam call?

Use HMRC's 'Report a suspicious HMRC phone call' online service on GOV.UK.

Where do I forward an HMRC scam text?

Forward it to 60599. Network charges apply.

What if I gave a scammer my bank details?

Contact your bank straight away, report it to HMRC's security team, and report any loss to Report Fraud.