HMRC issues tax warning following reports of over 200,000 scam referrals

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning people to keep an eye out for fake tax refund offers.

Self Assessment customers may be targeted by malicious actors following the passing of last month's deadline to submit a tax return. According to the government department, more than 11.5 million submitted their tax return before the deadline.

It added that such taxpayers could be targeted through an illegitimate email, phone call, or tax message claiming to offer a tax rebate. However, these scams are targeted at stealing someone's personal details or to have direct access to their bank account.

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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 said it responded to 207,800 suspicious contact referrals in the past year, 79,000 of which offered fake tax rebates. This is up 14 per cent from the 181,873 reported the year prior.

In the last year leading up to January, HMRC also reported 26,443 malicious websites which aimed to steal taxpayers' personal information or money to internet service providers so they could be taken down. This is a 29 per cent rise from 20,385 referred the year prior.

HMRC has reminded customers that it will never email, text, or phone customers to inform them they are due a refund or request a refund. In legitimate cases where a rebate is available, customers will receive repayments in their bank account while