End an unexpected call that pressures you to pay or share sensitive details. Check your HMRC account or official contact details on GOV.UK, then use the appropriate reporting route below.
Find the reporting routeIn this guide
A caller claims to be HMRC, demands money or says a refund is waiting. HMRC does make genuine phone contact, so its name alone does not settle the question. Check the request independently through GOV.UK.
What HMRC says it will never do
HMRC’s own guidance on GOV.UK says it will never:
- send a notification of a tax rebate, or ask for personal or payment information, by text message;
- use social media to offer a tax rebate or to ask for personal or financial information;
- email you about a tax rebate or ask for sensitive details from an address that does not end in hmrc.gov.uk.
A caller who threatens immediate arrest, demands payment the same day, or wants payment by gift card, voucher or cryptocurrency is not how a tax office collects a debt. Hang up, and if you are worried you owe something, sign in to your HMRC account on GOV.UK or use the contact details published there.
Where to report each kind of contact
| It arrived as | Report it to |
|---|---|
| A phone call | HMRC’s report a suspicious HMRC phone call form |
| A text message | Forward it to 60599 (charged at your network rate, says GOV.UK), and to 7726 |
| An email | Forward it to [email protected] |
| A social media account | [email protected] |
| You lost money | Your bank first, then Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or Police Scotland on 101 |
The number looked genuine
A displayed number can be spoofed, including a real HMRC number. A familiar number does not authenticate a call. Verify the request through GOV.UK and read our caller ID spoofing guide.
Warn the next person
Look the number up to see whether other people have reported the same script, then add your report. Write what the caller said rather than who you think they were; that is what helps the next person recognise it.
Common questions
Does HMRC phone people?
HMRC does contact people by phone about tax matters, which is why its name is borrowed. It says it will never send a tax rebate notification by text or ask for personal or payment details by text, social media or an email not ending in hmrc.gov.uk. HMRC also says it will never threaten arrest or ask you to pay with gift or payment vouchers, so a caller who does either is a scam.
How do I report a fake HMRC phone call?
Use HMRC's online form 'Report a suspicious HMRC phone call' on GOV.UK. Forward texts to 60599 and emails to [email protected]. If you lost money, tell your bank and report it to Report Fraud, or to Police Scotland on 101.
How can I check whether I really owe HMRC money?
Hang up and sign in to your HMRC online account on GOV.UK, or use the contact details published on GOV.UK. Do not use a number the caller gave you.
Have a number to check?
Read the available evidence, then choose your next step.
Sources behind this guide
First published 25 September 2026. Adapted from the existing GotMyNumber guide, with editorial changes for V2 on 28 October 2026.