Millions of Britons are being warned to watch out for ruthless scammers posing as HMRC as tax refund letters flood in this summer. Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) shared the three crucial things HMRC will never do in new tips to save you from falling victim to a costly fraud.
Between June and August, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending around four million tax calculation letters, known as P800s, to individuals due to receive income tax refunds. These letters typically affect employees paid through PAYE, pensioners who may have overpaid tax on pension income and others whose tax payments don’t align with their actual earnings. However, with scammers increasingly posing as HMRC to trick people into handing over money, Martin Lewis and the MSE team emphasised the need to recognise genuine communication from the tax office.
Sharing three things HMRC will never do, MSE wrote: “HMRC will always send a letter about any tax you’re owed – it’ll never text, email or call you unexpectedly and pressure you to take action.”
If you’re owed a refund, HMRC will automatically post a cheque to you within 14 days of the letter’s date. There’s no need to apply or claim unless explicitly stated.
HMRC will also never send links in letters or emails for you to claim refunds. Official refunds requiring claims are always done through verified Government websites.
Following unsolicited links can lead to scam sites designed to steal personal or financial information.
Anyone who receives a tax refund letter should carefully verify its authenticity and avoid responding to unexpected digital messages.
For peace of mind, users should go directly to the official Government site for tax overpayments and refunds here rather than clicking on links in letters or messages.
