HMRC refund and survey letters - are they fake?

HMRC refund and survey letters - are they fake?

If you receive a letter which says that you’re due a refund and asks for information to prove your ID, contact HMRC on 0300 200 3310 if you’re in doubt that it’s genuine.

Repayment letters. The rise of tax refund scams in recent years is a continuing source of concern. Many scams are poorly executed and easy to spot, some are less obvious and others quite convincing. A consequence of this is that many taxpayers are now sceptical about communications they receive telling them they are owed money by HMRC. Ironically, to prevent scams directed at HMRC, it’s sending out more letters than ever asking taxpayers to provide information to confirm their ID before it releases refunds. If you receive such a letter and aren’t sure if it’s really from HMRC, call 0300 200 3310. A genuine HMRC letter about confirming your ID should show this number.

Business survey. Between 1 September 2021 and 31 March 2022, HMRC is undertaking a survey of mid-sized businesses with the help of an independent agency called Kantar. The survey is about the impact of tax changes and the business’ experiences of dealing with HMRC. You may get a letter from Kantar and HMRC telling you about the research and inviting you to take part. This is voluntary. If you do respond, your answers will be confidential and any information you give will be used for research purposes only. A contact number is provided on the letters in case you have any questions about the survey.