A case of mistaken identity, where a taxpayer mistook genuine communication from the tax authority as a scam, recently made the news.
Thinking the automated emails and voicemail reminders he received were disingenuous, despite having opted out of paper communications, the taxpayer unwittingly opened himself up to financial penalties for failing to settle an outstanding liability.
Scammers purporting to be from HMRC are rife and we would encourage taxpayers to always be vigilant. If you believe that a message, letter or email is bogus, do not engage with it – whether by clicking links, opening attachments or sharing confidential details.
However, if you have asked HMRC to send you reminders via email, or telephone, it may be worth bearing this in mind.
If you are ever in the position where you are unsure about whether a communication is legitimate or not, you should speak to your accountant or tax adviser.
We have the knowledge of your financial affairs necessary to determine whether any demands should be heeded.
You can also read more about how to recognise genuine HMRC contact, here.
