Those who file for self-assessment are being urged to stay vigilant due to a new scam where fraudsters are impersonating HMRC.
Scammers will often target people at certain times of the year when they know many are preparing to file their self-assessment tax returns.
According to figures, HMRC received more than 170,000 scam referrals in the 12 months to the 31st of July 2025. This is a 12% reduction compared to the previous year; however, more than 47,000 of these reports still involved fake tax refund claims.
How the scam works
This type of scam usually involves fraudsters offering fake refunds or demanding urgent payments – all to steal personal and banking information.
Things like passwords, usernames and access codes are private and should never be shared, even if you’re told it’s safe to do so.
It’s important to remember that HMRC will never:
- leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest
- ask for personal or financial information via text message or email
- contact customers by email, text, or phone to inform them about a refund or ask them to claim one.
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How filing early can help
HMRC recommends filing early, as it can make it easier to spot scams. This is because those who have already submitted their tax return are less likely to be caught off guard by scam attempts closer to the self-assessment deadline (31st January 2026).
What to do if you think someone is impersonating HMRC
If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from HMRC and they are asking for your personal details or offering a tax rebate, the best thing to do is cease contact until you’ve checked the official HMRC scams guidance.
You can then check its authenticity before potentially being scammed.
Kelly Paterson, HMRC’s Chief Security Officer, said, “We’re urging everyone to stay alert to scam emails and texts offering fake tax refunds.
“Taking a moment to pause and check can make all the difference.
“Report any suspicious activity to us before the fraudsters do any more harm. Search ‘HMRC scams advice’ and refer to the scams guidance on GOV.UK to stay informed and protect yourself.”
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