Check genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method

Sometimes HMRC uses more than one way to get in touch. For example, we may contact you by letter first before following up with an email, call or text message. This is because:

• it can provide an extra level of security
• it can help prepare customers for the follow up contact
• these are the contact details HMRC has for you

All the HMRC contacts listed on this page can use more than one communication method. They are in alphabetical order.

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) reminder to agents and companies

HMRC is contacting you to remind you to complete your ATED return by 30 April 2022.

The email will have the title ‘ATED Return’.

The email or letter will never ask for any personal or financial information.

Effects of the super-deduction

HMRC will work with the independent agency Ipsos MORI to carry out research. This research will explore the effects of the super-deduction and help to inform future policy.

You may receive an email or letter from Ipsos MORI and HMRC to tell you about the research and invite you to take part.

Taking part is voluntary and if you do take part, all responses will be confidential. Any information given will be used for research purposes only.

If you need further information, contact details for both Ipsos MORI and HMRC will be on the letter or email.

HMRC text numbers

HMRC is using a new number to send text messages to customers. This may be different to one you have received a text from in the past.

HMRC will not ask for any personal or financial details in a text message.

Logging into your HMRC tax account with multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication is an extra security feature for customers which replaces 2-step verification. It helps prevent someone else from accessing a customer’s digital account, even if they know the user ID and password. HMRC will send an access code by text message or voice call to your chosen mobile phone or landline number to activate the multi-factor authorisation. You will need this code to complete the access.

These text messages and voice calls will never ask you to give personal or financial information.

If you have activated multi-factor authentication you’ll only be able to access the account using the:

• Government Gateway user ID and password
• mobile or landline device which you have registered

National Minimum Wage and employment

HMRC may sometimes contact employees to discuss details of their current or previous employment.

If we call you, we’ll:

• tell you our enquiry is about the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage
• ask you basic questions about your current work or previous employment experiences
• complete some standard security questions

We’ll never ask for personal financial information such as bank details without writing to you first.

You can ask us not to tell your current or previous employer about the call.

HMRC will also contact employers in relation to National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage enquiries.

To check that this contact is genuine you should:

• have a copy of the letter or email you’ve received from National Minimum Wage to hand
• tell us the details of the person who called you from National Minimum Wage
• call 03000 557 755 (find out about call charges)

If you have received a letter, email, text or phone call from another HMRC office you can call the Income Tax general enquiry helpline to check this contact is genuine.

National Minimum Wage common errors

HMRC may contact employers or third parties to share information on common errors with the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. The email will provide links to further information and support.

HMRC may contact employees by letter to provide information on common errors to look out for in their pay.

The letter will explain how to make a National Minimum Wage complaint and contain links to further information and support.

To check this contact is genuine you should:

• have a copy of the letter or email you’ve received about National Minimum Wage to hand
• telephone 03000 557 755 (find out about call charges)

Overseas businesses that sell digital services to UK consumers

HMRC is contacting overseas businesses who sell digital services to UK consumers about their UK VAT obligations by email and letter.

This communication will explain why we are contacting them, and ask them to contact us. We will not ask for any personal, business or financial information.

Repayments research

HMRC is working with independent research agency Kantar Public UK to carry out research.

The research aims to understand views on HMRC’s service and support when dealing with tax repayments. For example, when an individual has over-paid on their tax and are due a repayment from HMRC.

You may receive a letter, phone call, or email inviting you to take part. Taking part is voluntary and any information you give will be:

• confidential
• used for research purposes only

Research into self-assessment and VAT repayment systems

HMRC are working with independent research agency NatCen Social Research to carry out research.

During this time, you may receive a letter from HMRC telling you about this research and a phone call from from NatCen Social Research asking you to take part.

The research is on the tax repayment claim process. It’s aimed at Self-Assessment and VAT customers who have made a repayment claim and will ask about their:

• circumstances
• thought processes
• experiences

Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part, your response and any information given will be:

• confidential
• anonymous
• used for research purposes only

Research into the impact of full controls on customs intermediaries

HMRC will work with independent agencies to carry out interviews as part of research. The interviews will inform a survey and will:

• look into the impact of full controls on customs intermediaries
• help HMRC support customs intermediaries and make sure trade runs smoothly

You may receive a letter or phone call from Ipsos MORI inviting you to take part in one of these interviews.

Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part, your answers will be confidential. Any information you give will be anonymous and used for research purposes only.

Research on agent experiences of HMRC’s digital services

HMRC is working with independent research agency Kantar, to carry out quantitative research.

The aim of the research is to:

• understand tax agents’ experiences of HMRC’s digital services
• improve HMRC’s digital services

You may receive a letter from HMRC asking you to take part in the research. You may then receive a phone call from Kantar inviting you to take part in a survey.

Taking part in this research is voluntary but we encourage you to do so. If you do, your answers will be confidential and used for research purposes only.

Taking part in this research will not affect any of your dealings with HMRC.

Research letters about the disability element of Tax Credits

HMRC will be working with an independent research agency called IFF Research.

They will carry out research to understand customer engagement with HMRC around the disability elements of Tax Credits.

You may receive a letter from IFF research on behalf of HMRC inviting you to an interview or focus group. These will be carried out by phone call or online.

Taking part is voluntary. All answers and information given will be:

• confidential
• used for research purposes only

Research on the Profit Diversion Compliance Facility and the Diverted Profits Investigation Approach

HMRC will be working with independent research agency IFF Research Limited. This research is to explore experiences of the:

• Profit Diversion Compliance Facility
• Diverted Profits Investigation approach

You may receive a letter or email from HMRC asking you to take part in this study. Taking part is voluntary but we encourage you to do so. This will help us improve services and customer experience.

If you do take part, your answers and any information you give will be:

• confidential
• used for research purposes only

We will not ask you for any financial information. For more information, contact details for the HMRC research team will be included in the letter or email.

Research to explore market shifts and behaviours relating to Stamp Duty

HMRC is working with research agency Ipsos MORI to carry out voluntary research. This research will explore the factors driving market shifts and behaviours on Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT).

By taking part in this research, you will help HMRC to understand:

• changes in the market
• changes in trading behaviours
• the role of exemptions and reliefs

Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part, your answers and any information you give will be:

• confidential
• anonymous
• used for research purposes only

Single Trade Window research

HMRC is working with independent research agency Kantar Public to carry out research on the Single Trade Window. We may contact you if you’ve recently:

• taken part in the HMRC Trader Survey
• given permission to be contacted for other HMRC research on trade

The Single Trade Window aims to simplify importing and exporting goods for businesses. It provides a single entry point for data required for goods movements.

The research will explore what factors would influence traders’ usage of the Single Trade Window, including:

• features of the Single Trade Window
• available government support
• considerations around data sharing

You may receive a letter, email or phone call from Kantar to:

• tell you about the research
• invite you to take part in an interview

Taking part is voluntary. If you do take part your answers and any information given will:

• be confidential
• only be used for research purposes
• help improve the development of the Single Trade Window

If you need further information, you can find contact details for Kantar Public and HMRC in the letter and email.

Statutory notices requesting information

HMRC’s Data Acquisition and Exchange regularly issues statutory notices to the holders of certain types of information, asking them to provide relevant details to HMRC. The holders of the information have a legal obligation to provide the data requested.

The notices requesting information can be sent by post or email.

Notices issued by email will contain a link to this webpage, so you can see that HMRC is using email for this purpose.

Tax relief evaluations

Independent agencies will carry out interviews as part of a series of evaluations on a range of tax reliefs.

This will help HMRC to evaluate the effects of these tax reliefs.

You may receive a letter or phone call from IFF Research, Ipsos MORI, or Kantar Public inviting you to take part in these evaluations.

Taking part is entirely voluntary. If you do take part, your answers will be confidential. Any information you give will be made anonymous and used for evaluation purposes only.

Traders survey

HMRC will carry out research with independent research agency Ipsos MORI. The aim of the research is to understand how businesses are continuing to trade with the EU since the Brexit transition period ended.

You may receive a letter or phone call from Ipsos MORI telling you about the research and inviting you to an interview.

Taking part is voluntary but we encourage you to do so. This will help HMRC to develop and improve the existing advice and guidance it offers to businesses on how to trade with the EU.

Any information you give will be:

• anonymous
• confidential
• used for research purposes only

Trust survey

On behalf of HMRC, Kantar Public will be asking taxpayers to take part in research about trust in HMRC.

This research will explore levels of trust in the organisation and its influencers. The results will inform service design to improve customer experience.

You’ll receive either a letter or email from Kantar inviting you to take part in the survey.

The letter or email will not ask for any personal or financial information.

VAT register inactivity

HMRC is contacting customers who are believed to no longer need to hold a VAT registration number due to recent inactivity on their VAT account. You may receive a phone call or email, with the email referring to VAT register inactivity.

The phone calls or emails will ask you to confirm whether you still require to be VAT registered, and to provide some basic information on where you’re trading.

The calls or emails will not ask for personal or financial information.