self assessment customers – The NEN

HMRC: Warning to Self Assessment customers as scam referrals exceed 200,000

With the Self Assessment tax deadline behind us, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning people to be wary of bogus tax refund offers.

Fraudsters could set their sights on Self Assessment customers, with more than 11.5 million submitting a tax return by last month’s deadline.

Taxpayers who completed their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year by the 31 January deadline might be taken in by an email, phone call or text message offering a tax rebate. These phishing scams are designed to use personal details for selling on to criminals, or to access people’s bank accounts.

HMRC responded to 207,800 referrals from the public of suspicious contact in the past year to January – up 14% from the 181,873 reported for the previous 12 months. More than 79,000 of those referrals offered bogus tax rebates.

Kelly Paterson, HMRC’s Chief Security Officer, said: “With the deadline for tax returns behind us, criminals will now try to trick people with fake offers of tax rebates.

“Scammers will attempt to dupe people by email, phone or texts that mimic government messages to make them appear authentic.

“Don’t rush into anything, take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”

HMRC will not email, text or phone a customer to tell them that they are due a refund or ask them to request a refund. Customers receive repayments into their chosen bank account, and can see any transactions in their online HMRC account and in the HMRC app.

Customers can help fight phishing scams by reporting any suspicious communications to HMRC:

· forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

· report tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK

· forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599

In the last year to January HMRC also reported 26,443 malicious web pages to internet service providers to be taken down.

This is a 29% increase from the 20,385 referred by HMRC for removal the previous year. These sites aim to deceive taxpayers and steal their personal information or money.

They copy the design and branding of genuine websites so criminals can trick people into giving away their personal details. This information is then used to access people’s bank accounts or sold on the web.

HMRC is reminding customers to be vigilant to any potential scam activity, protect their personal information and report any suspicious activity.

Remember to: fighting scams:

Protect

Criminals are cunning – protect your information.
Take a moment to think before parting with your money or information.
Use strong and different passwords on all your accounts so criminals are less able to target you.

Recognise

If a phone call, text or email is suspicious or unexpected, don’t give out private information or reply, and don’t download attachments or click on links.
Check on GOV.UK that the contact is genuinely from HMRC.
Do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed.

Report

If you’re unsure about a text claiming to be from HMRC forward it to 60599, or an email to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Report a tax scam phone call on GOV.UK.
Contact your bank immediately if you’ve had money stolen, and report it to Action Fraud. In Scotland, contact the police on 101.
By reporting phishing emails, you help stop criminal activity and prevent other people falling victim.

On Monday, the Home Office launched its national campaign ‘Stop! Think Fraud’. Backed by organisations across law enforcement, tech, banking, telecoms and the third sector, a new website was created with advice on how to stay safe online. It can be found at www.gov.uk/stopthinkfraud

More information about Self Assessment

The Self Assessment payment deadline was 31 January, and anyone with outstanding tax to pay should do so as soon as possible. There are many ways to pay, including online, using the HMRC app, by bank transfer, or setting up a Time to Pay payment plan.

A full list of payment options can be found on GOV.UK. There is also a video on YouTube that explains a customer’s Self Assessment tax bill and the different ways to pay.

Taxpayers who file or pay late but have a reasonable excuse can appeal penalties on GOV.UK. HMRC has published interactive guidance to explain the process and signpost them to the correct course of action.

Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice

44,800 customers opt to spread the cost as tax deadline looms

Self Assessment customers can set up a payment plan with HMRC to pay their tax bill

As the deadline to submit a Self Assessment tax returns looms, nearly 44,800 people have sorted their tax bills totalling almost £148 million, by setting up a payment plan.

More than 7.7 million Self Assessment customers have already filed their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, but HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding anyone who still needs to pay their tax bill should do so before the deadline on 31 January or risk facing a penalty.

Those who are unable to pay in full can check online to see if they can set up a monthly payment plan called Time to Pay. If they owe less than £30,000, they can use the affordability checker on GOV.UK to help decide the best arrangements for them. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balances from 1 February.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “We want to help Self Assessment customers meet their obligations and there is no time like the present to choose the right payment option for you.

“Whether you choose to pay in instalments, via the HMRC app or using online banking, search ‘pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK for a full list of options.”

In addition to those who have set up an online payment plan, in December 2023, 28,794 customers used the free and secure HMRC app to pay more than £42 million in tax owed. Customers can also receive a tax refund via the app.

They should include their bank account details when filing, so that if HMRC needs to make a repayment, they can do so quickly and securely.

For those who pay their current estimated tax bill via Payment on Account, the first instalment for the 2023 to 2024 tax year is due on 31 January.

A full list of payment options can be found on GOV.UK.

There is also a video on YouTube that explains a customer’s Self Assessment tax bill and the different ways to pay.

HMRC will consider a customer’s reasons for not being able to meet the deadline for completing their Self Assessment on time. Those who provide HMRC with a reasonable excuse may avoid a penalty.

The penalties for late tax returns are:

an initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time
after 3 months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900
after 6 months, a further penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater
after 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater

There are also additional penalties for paying late – 5% of the tax unpaid at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months. Interest will also be charged on any tax paid late.

People should be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

More information about Self Assessment

HMRC: Scams warning for 12 million Self Assessment customers

Self Assessment customers are urged to be on the lookout for scam texts, emails and phone calls from fraudsters.

This warning comes as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received more than 130,000 reports about tax scams in the 12 months to September 2023, of which 58,000 were offering fake tax rebates.

With around 12 million people expected to submit a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year before the 31 January 2024 deadline, fraudsters will prey on customers by impersonating HMRC.

The scams take different approaches. Some offer a rebate; others tell customers that they need to update their tax details or threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “HMRC is reminding customers to be wary of approaches by fraudsters in the run up to the Self Assessment deadline. Criminals are great pretenders who try and dupe people by sending emails, phone calls and texts which mimic government messages to make them appear authentic.

“Unexpected contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK.”

Customers can report any suspicious communications to HMRC:

forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599
forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk
report tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK

HMRC works to protect the public from scammers. In the 12 months to September 2023, HMRC has responded to 60,000 reports of phone scams alone and got 25,000 malicious web pages taken down.

Customers do not need to wait until 31 January before filing their tax return, they can submit it before then but do not have to pay until the deadline, unless they choose to. Filing earlier allows them to find out what they owe sooner or if they are owed money, get their refund.

Help and support is available on GOV.UK to help customers complete their return, there is no need to call us. HMRC has a wide range of online resources to help customers file a tax return including a series of video tutorials on YouTube and help and support guidance on GOV.UK alongside HMRC digital assistant, HMRC app, community forums and the help and support email service.

Self Assessment customers could be a target for fraudsters, HMRC warns

Self Assessment customers who are starting to think about their annual tax returns for the 2021 to 2022 tax year should guard against being targeted by fraudsters, warns HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In the 12 months to August 2022, HMRC responded to more than 180,000 referrals of suspicious contact from the public, of which almost 81,000 were scams offering fake tax rebates.

Criminals claiming to be from HMRC have targeted individuals by email, text and phone with their communications ranging from offering bogus tax rebates to threatening arrest for tax evasion. Contacts like these should sound alarm bells – HMRC would never call threatening arrest.

Anyone contacted by someone claiming to be from HMRC in a way that arouses suspicion is advised to take their time and check the scams advice on GOV.UK.

Customers can report any suspicious activity to HMRC. They can forward suspicious texts claiming to be from HMRC to 60599 and emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk. Any tax scam phone calls can be reported to HMRC using the online form on GOV.UK.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.

“HMRC will never ring up threatening arrest. Only criminals do that.

“Tax scams come in many forms. Some threaten immediate arrest for tax evasion, others offer a rebate. Contacts like these should set alarm bells ringing, so take your time and check ‘HMRC scams advice’ on GOV.UK.”

Fraudsters target customers when they know they are more likely to be in contact with HMRC, which is why Self Assessment customers should be extra vigilant to this activity. There is a risk they could be taken in by scam texts, emails or calls either offering a ‘refund’ or demanding unpaid tax, thinking that they are genuine HMRC communications referring to their Self Assessment return.

Some customers who have not done a Self Assessment return previously might be tricked into clicking on links in these emails or texts and revealing personal or financial information to criminals.

The deadline for filing paper tax returns for the 2021 to 2022 tax year is 31 October 2022, and 31 January 2023 for those filing their tax return online. Customers who file their return online via GOV.UK should not share their HMRC login details. Someone using the details could steal from the customer or make a fraudulent claim in their name.

HMRC is actively tackling the scams and fraudsters who attempt to mimic genuine HMRC activity and messages. The department’s dedicated Customer Protection Team works continuously to identify and close down scams.

HMRC also tackles misleading websites designed to make people pay for services that should be free or low cost, charging to connect people to free HMRC phone helplines. To protect the public, HMRC formally disputes and takes ownership of HMRC-branded internet domain or website names. Since 2017, the department has recovered more than 183 websites hosting low-value services such as call-connection sites, saving the public millions of pounds.