HMRC has issued a warning to individuals and business owners to be aware of tax scams, as it begins to send out email reminders about the 2020/21 self-assessment deadlines.

The final date for completion of this tax return is 31st January next year, and HMRC is now beginning to contact everyone from small business owners to self-employed people to remind them about it. As a result, it is also advising them to be conscious of the possibility of scams, with close to 800,000 of these having been reported to the tax body during the past 12 months.

Most of these scams involve crooks attempting to get sensitive personal data – or even actual money – from their victims, with emails claiming people are entitled to a tax rebate being common. The warning will be particularly relevant to those who do not employ professionals like accountants specialising in tax return services in Goole or elsewhere to complete their returns for them.

HMRC is stating that people should not let themselves be fooled by text messages, calls or emails that claim to be from the authority, with Myrtle Lloyd from HMRC customer services telling Gov.uk:

“Never let yourself be rushed. If someone contacts you saying they’re from HMRC, wanting you to urgently transfer money or give personal information, be on your guard.”

Lloyd went on to add that telephone calls where people are threatened with arrest or imprisonment over tax issues are always fake, as this is not the way in which HMRC deals with outstanding tax matters.