Does HMRC Send A Text Message For P60 Refund?

By HuutiMoney
Page last updated: 24/08/2023 | Next review date: 24/08/2025
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If you are not sure whether or not HMRC sends a text message for a P60 tax refund, you will find the answer to your question as you read along the following blog post. In addition to answering your question, we will also discuss some key points to keep in mind when you are suspicious of whether a text message is authentic or a scam.

Does HMRC Send A Text Message For P60 Refund?

While HMRC may send a text message regarding a P60 tax refund, they will neither ask you to click on an external link, nor ask for any personal information in their message. 

HMRC can send you reminders about payments that are due or remind you of an appointment that you may have with them, but they will never ask you to provide personal or financial information, such as your National Insurance number or bank account details, via text message. 

Therefore, if you receive a text message that asks you to provide such information or redirects you to a suspicious website, it is likely to be a fraudulent message.

HMRC has also advised taxpayers to be vigilant when receiving any text messages that claim to be from the tax authority. If you receive a text message that looks suspicious, do not click on any links or provide any personal information. Instead, you can forward the message to HMRC’s phishing team at phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and they will investigate it further.

To ensure that you receive genuine messages from HMRC regarding your tax refunds, you can sign up for the tax authority’s free text message service. This service sends you text alerts whenever HMRC sends you an email or letter, providing an extra layer of protection against fraudsters.

How Can You Tell If A Text Message Is From HMRC Or A Scam?

While it may be a challenge to identify whether or not a message is from HMRC or a scam, you can follow the following suggestions to avoid being affected in case of a scam:

  • Keep in mind that HMRC will never ask you to provide personal or financial information, such as your National Insurance number or bank account details, via text message. Therefore, if you receive a text message that asks you to provide such information or redirects you to a suspicious website, it is likely to be a scam message.
  • Scam messages often use urgent or threatening language to pressure you into taking immediate action. HMRC will never use threatening language or ask you to take immediate action.
  • Look for spelling and grammar errors in the message. Scam messages often contain spelling and grammar mistakes or use unnatural language that can be a sign that the message is fraudulent.
  • Check the phone number or sender ID. Genuine text messages from HMRC usually come from a shortcode, which is a 5 or 6-digit number. However, scammers can also spoof a shortcode to make it look like the message is from HMRC.
  • Verify the information in the message. If you receive a text message about a tax refund, check your HMRC online account or contact HMRC directly to confirm if the message is genuine.

What Should You Do If You Suspect That A Text Message About A Tax Refund Is A Scam?

If you suspect that the tax refund message that you’ve received is a scam, you should follow the below steps to make sure that your personal information remains safe:

  • Do not respond or click on any links in the message. This will help prevent scammers from obtaining your personal information or installing malware on your device.
  • If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the message, you can check the HMRC website or contact HMRC directly to confirm if the message is genuine.
  • Forward the message to HMRC’s phishing team at 60599 or by sending an email to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk This will help HMRC to identify and investigate the scam message.
  • If you have clicked on a link and provided your personal or financial information, contact your bank immediately to report any suspicious activity.
  • If you are a victim of fraud or identity theft, report the incident to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it’s important to be cautious when receiving any text messages that claim to be from HMRC. By following these tips and verifying the legitimacy of any message you receive, you can protect yourself from potential scams and keep your personal and financial information safe.

References:

Report suspicious HMRC emails, text messages and phone calls – GOV.UK

Check if a text message you’ve received from HMRC is genuine – GOV.UK

Scammers Promising Tax Refunds Strike Again