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

ChildCommercial Benefitdrivers

HMRC maywill contactsend youa by text message to remindcustomers youwho tomay lethave usundeclared knowincome iffrom yourdriving childrenpaying intendpassengers. This is to remainremind inyou approvedto:

• notify educationHMRC orof trainingthis afterincome
• make agea 16.
  voluntary disclosure

TheseThis messages:text message will not:

• do not ask for personal or financial information
• willprovide not include any links to websites

Confirmation and update text messages

HMRC may contact you by text message to confirm that we have received from you:

• a claim
• a form
• other correspondence

The current confirmation text messages being issued are:

• complaints acknowledgements
• VAT DIY House building
• tax credit renewals
• Child Benefit

HMRC appointment reminders

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

TheseThis messagestext message will not:

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

National Minimum Wage increases

HMRC advisessends customersa by text message to customers who claim Working Tax Credits, to advise 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.

TextThis messagestext message will not ask for any personal or financial information.

Online status check

HMRC will send a text message to customers who may have undeclared income from online sales. This is to remind you to:

• notify HMRC of this income
• make a voluntary disclosure

This text message will not:

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

Self Assessment, VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax customers

HMRC may contactsend a text message to 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.

TheThis messagestext message will either:

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

TheText 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

TheThis text messagesmessage will not:

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

Tax credits

HMRC may contact you by text message to:

• confirmto andask remind you aboutto tax credit claim interview appointments
• request that you call the tax credit helpline to discuss your claim

These text messages will not:claim.

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

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.

These text messages will not:

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

Other texts you should check

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