Check if a text message you've received from HMRC is genuine

Commercial drivers

HMRC will contact customers by text message who may have undeclared income from driving paying passengers. This is to remind them to:

• notify HMRC of this income
• make a voluntary disclosure.

These messages do not ask for personal or financial information and will not include any links to websites.

Confirmation and update text messages

HMRC may contact you by text to confirm they have received:

• a claim
• a form
• other correspondence

The current confirmation text messages being issued are:

• complaints acknowledgements
• VAT DIY House building

HMRC appointment reminders

HMRC may send you a text to remind you of an upcoming telephone, Teams or face to face appointment you’ve booked.

These messages will not:

• ask for personal or financial information
• include any links to websites

National Minimum Wage increases

HMRC advises customers by text message who claim Working Tax Credits, when their entitlement to National Minimum Wage has gone up following:

• a recent 18th, 21st or 23rd birthday — messages are issued on a monthly basis
• the annual rate increase on 1 April each year

HMRC contacts apprentices by text message after the annual rate increase on 1 April each year. The text messages are issued from June once a year.

Text messages will not ask for any personal or financial information.

Online status check

HMRC will contact customers by text message who may have undeclared income from online sales. This is to remind them to:

• notify HMRC of this income
• make a voluntary disclosure

These messages do not ask for personal or financial information and will not include any links to websites.

Self Assessment, VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax customers

HMRC may contact customers who have debts or outstanding returns to:

• request payment
• request overdue returns
• update their personal or business address

HMRC may also remind you of payment or return submission deadlines becoming due.

The messages will either:

• direct you to the GOV.UK website
• ask you to contact HMRC by phone to make payment or update your address

The messages will not include or ask for any personal or financial information.

Survey after a call to HMRC or a compliance check

HMRC may send you an exit survey by text message if you’ve:

• agreed to provide feedback after calling one of our contact centres
• gone through a compliance check

The text messages will not:

• ask for personal or financial information
• include any phone numbers
• provide links to websites other than to the survey platform

Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare

HMRC will contact parents by text message if they have not reconfirmed, they are still eligible for Tax-free Childcare.

Other texts you should check

You can also check text messages listed in HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method.