Check if a letter you've received from HMRC is genuine
Check a list of recent letters from HMRC to help you decide if a letter you've received is a scam.
If your letter is not listed here check other letters sent by HMRC.
Claiming repayment for Self Assessment
You may get a letter from HMRC asking you to contact us about your repayment claim. We may ask you to send more information to allow us to:
- check your identity
- verify your repayment claim
You must respond to the letter as instructed so we can make any repayments owed to you as soon as possible.
If you need further support or you’re not sure the letter is genuine, you can contact using one of the following:
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telephone number: 0300 200 3310 (this number should be on the letter)
Our customer support team will check your records and confirm that the letter is from HMRC.
Independent research ― understanding business customers’ use of their online tax account
From October 2021 up to and including March 2022, HMRC will work with independent research agency, IFF Research to carry out a study with business customers. This study is to better understand your experiences of using your online tax account.
You may receive a letter from IFF Research and HMRC inviting you to take part in this study. Taking part is voluntary but we encourage you to do so. This will improve services and customer experience.
If you do take part, your answers will be confidential and any information you give will be used for research purposes only.
If you need more information, contact details for both IFF Research and HMRC will be on the letter.
These letters will not ask you for any financial information.
Mid-sized business customer experience survey 2021
From 1 September 2021 to 31 March 2022, HMRC will work with an independent agency called Kantar. This annual survey helps HMRC:
- increase its understanding of mid-sized businesses’ experiences of dealing with HMRC
- assesses the impact of various changes and initiatives, to understand how we can improve services
You may get a letter from Kantar and HMRC telling you about the research and inviting you to take part. If you need more information, contact details for both Kantar and HMRC will be on the letter.
Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part, your answers will be confidential and any information you give will be used for research purposes only.
Research about the digitisation of Child Benefit
From 3 March 2022 up to and including 1 June 2022, HMRC will be working with an independent research agency IFF Research to carry out research.
You may receive a letter during this time from IFF research on behalf of HMRC. The letter will invite you to take part in interviews which will be carried out by phone call.
This research is to understand customer readiness for a digital Child Benefit service.
Taking part is voluntary and any information given will be:
- confidential
- used for research purposes only
Research into the impact of cash collection
From December 2021 up to and including April 2022, HMRC will work with independent research agency IFF Research Limited. This research will explore experiences of HMRC’s approach to the collection of additional tax charges raised following an enquiry.
You may receive a letter from IFF Research and HMRC inviting you to take part in this study. Taking part is voluntary but we encourage you to do so. This will improve services and customer experience.
If you do take part, your answers will be confidential and any information you give will be used for research purposes only.
If you need more information, contact details for both IFF Research and HMRC will be on the letter. These letters will not ask you for any financial information.
Research with businesses on VAT submissions
In January 2022, HMRC will work with Kantar to carry out research exploring views on filing VAT returns on time. During this time we may send you a letter inviting you to take part in this research.
We will be holding interviews with VAT businesses. From 1 January up to and including 31 March 2022, Kantar may call you to:
- find out your eligibility
- invite you to an interview
Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part, your answers will be confidential. Any information you provide will be used for research purposes only.
Other letters you should check
You can also to check letters listed in HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method.
Last updated 25 February 2022 + show all updates
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Added information on research about the digitisation of Child Benefit.
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Research with businesses on VAT submissions section has been added.
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Information on Research into the impact of cash collection has been added.
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Added 'Independent research ― understanding business customers’ use of their online tax account' section.
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Added details of a letter being sent about regional information on Corporation Tax reliefs research.
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Added details of a letter being sent out about research with mid-size businesses
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Added translation