The HMRC is warning people to watch out for tax scams as the deadline passed for people to file a self-assessment tax return.
Millions of people are likely to be more receptive to messages or phone calls purporting to be from HMRC as the clock ticks, with the tax authority reporting it responded to 180,000 referrals of suspicious contact last tax year, typically fake offers of tax rebates and threats of arrest for tax evasion.
More than 12 million customers were expected to file a tax return for the 2021 to 2022 tax year and HMRC says 8.7 million had done so by last week, meaning 3.3 million were getting close to the January 31 deadline. Fraudsters target customers when they know they are more likely to be in contact with the tax office so HMRC is therefore warning self-assessment customers to be extra vigilant to suspicious emails, text messages and phone calls.
