Warning: Scam letters - Call HMRC on 0300 200 3819

This is a blog article on a website of a firm of accountant. Please do not telephone us regarding letters you receive from HMRC that you think may be scam letters. You should instead telephone HMRC on its official published telephone number of 0300 200 3310.

Alternatively, write to HMRC at PAYE & Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS and send them copies of the letters that you have received in the post. To confirm these contact details are genuine go to the HMRC Self Assessment and PAYE website.

We are aware of scam letters being sent to employers stating that HMRC have not received payment for outstanding amounts owed.

The scammers are demanding payment of an outstanding tax liability and/or penalties and asking you to call an 0300 200 **** number to discuss payment. One such number giving us, and many others, concern is 0300 200 3819.

These letters looks extremely authentic and give the impression that they are genuine. They may also show a fake PAYE reference at the top right-hand side e.g. 120 P Y 02765825.

Once investigated, the tax amounts requested may not even be due. The bank details provided are not that of HMRC.

Even though the letters appear to be from HMRC and look extremely good, they are scams. We found that:

• The telephone number is similar to those used by HMRC, starting 0300 200

• The payment reference is not be correct for the business receiving the letter

• HMRC never ask you to call before paying; they just ask you to pay

HMRC letters always come on brown recycled poor-quality paper. The fake letters are on normal white A4 paper.

We have telephoned the number ourselves, before entering 141 (to block our own telephone number), just to try and check out the number. The person that answers the call sounds extremely legitimately. They go through all the usual HMRC protocol, with press X for agents and X businesses. The music and answer messages all sound real.

We speak to HMRC almost daily, so we are used to what you hear and what you are asked when going through HMRC security. Eventually, I asked them to prove that the number was genuine which they could not. They told us to go to www.gov.uk, but couldn't then direct me further. They then told us to ring 0300 200 3200. This is a genuine HMRC Employers Helpline.

We have spoken with other accountants who have done the same as us. They also said that if persist that they just pass you through to a genuine HMRC number.

If you Google the telephone number of 0300 200 3819 on the letter, it will show warnings of the HMRC scam. Check this who-called.co.uk website too.

If you receive a letter or tax demand from HMRC for a payment that you are not sure about, or you would like to discuss the letters from HMRC, please contact us.

You can also read a similar article where we made every reasonable attempt possible to authenticate another HMRC 'scam number', which finally, after considerable digging, was proved to be a genuine HMRC number. See https://www.all-paul.co.uk/post/simple-assessment-letters-call-hmrc-on-0300-322-7835.

If we, as accountants, who see genuine HMRC letters and speak with HMRC daily, are having concerns and problems authenticating these numbers with HMRC, through official channels, then how can honest unrepresented taxpayers feel comfortable about such letters themselves?

Write to HMRC at 'PAYE & Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS' with copies of any letters that you receive that you think are scam letters from HMRC. Alternatively, telephone them on 0300 200 3310.