HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is always looking for ways of improving communication with customers and this means they may occasionally contact you in new ways.
HMRC appreciate that you need to be able to confirm that any electronic contact you receive from them is genuine and to help you do this a list is provided below of the emails and texts (Secure Message Service (SMS)) that HMRC sends out.
HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email. If you have any doubt that an email you receive from HMRC is genuine please do not follow any links, disclose any personal details or respond to it. Please forward it to HMRC at phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk then delete it.
If you've not yet sent your 2010-11 Self Assessment tax return you might get an SMS text message from HMRC.
This year, in addition to writing to customers, HMRC will also use SMS text messages as a further reminder that customers need to file their 2010-11 tax return online now to avoid further penalties. The messages will be sent from 10 April and 18 April.
The message will not ask you to provide any personal or financial information.
Find out more about penalties for late tax returns and payments
HMRC sends informational emails several times a year to employers who have registered to receive them. These emails never ask you to provide personal or financial information.
The latest batch of emails issued by HMRC will be sent from 16 April 2012. The emails are titled 'Important Information for Employers' providing useful information for employers. The emails include links, which direct recipients to pages on the HMRC website.
HMRC periodically sends information emails to customers to assist them with their tax affairs. Some, over the coming months will be sent to people who have recently registered as self-employed but may also be sent to customers who have provided their email address to enable HMRC to assist them with their tax affairs.
The emails will include links to the HMRC, Businesslink and webinar service (the Webinar service provides online seminars run through a company called Citrix). These emails will never ask you to provide personal or financial information.
HMRC is sending text messages to people who work within the electricians' industry and may benefit from taking part in the Electricians' Tax Safe Plan (ETSP). This covers work in the electrical trade and includes anyone who installs, maintains and tests electrical systems, equipment and appliances.
If you've received the text message, shown below, and not yet told HMRC that you have started working for yourself or you've not told them about all your income, you probably won't have paid the right amount of tax. If that's the case, the ETSP is just what you need to help get your tax affairs up to date. For further information please visit the ETSP campaign webpage through the link given below.
Electricians' Tax Safe Plan campaign
If your tax affairs are up to date or you have already contacted HMRC please ignore this text message.
'Working as an electrician? Want to sort out your tax? HMRC Electricians Tax Safe Plan can help. Text verification: www.hmrc.gov.uk/securetext'.
