What are my rights if I was scammed by someone impersonating HMRC or the IRS?
Government impersonation scams are serious criminal offences — victims have the same bank recovery and reporting options as for other fraud, and reporting specifically to the impersonated agency is important as they track and publicise such operations.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
HMRC (UK) and IRS (US) impersonation scams involve criminals contacting victims by phone, text, or email claiming the victim owes unpaid tax and faces immediate arrest or asset seizure unless they pay immediately. The urgency and authority conveyed make these scams highly effective, even against people who would normally be cautious.
It is important to know that genuine HMRC and IRS communications are almost never made by unexpected telephone call demanding immediate payment by unusual methods. Genuine tax authorities send formal letters, allow time to respond, and do not demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
For recovery, the same options apply as for other fraud: if payment was made by bank transfer, APP fraud reimbursement; if by card, chargeback or Section 111 75. Report to Action Fraud, your local police, and specifically to HMRC's phishing reporting service ([email protected]) or the IRS impersonation reporting process.
This is general information. If you received a threatening communication purporting to be from a tax authority and are unsure if it is genuine, contact the authority directly using contact details from their official website — never call a number provided in the suspicious message.
Common red flags
- You received an unexpected call claiming you owe tax and face imminent arrest
- Payment was demanded by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- You were told to keep the matter confidential and not tell family
- The caller became aggressive when you questioned them or offered to call back
- You were given a phone number to call that is not the official published number
What to do now
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) or IC3/IRS impersonation hotline (US)
- Report to HMRC directly at [email protected] or via their fraud reporting pages
- Contact your bank immediately about recovery of any payments made
- Warn family members — HMRC/IRS scams target multiple people in the same household
- Block the number and do not engage further with any follow-up contacts
Frequently asked questions
Does HMRC ever call people on the phone?
HMRC does sometimes make outbound calls, but they will never demand immediate payment over the phone or threaten arrest. They will always follow up in writing and allow time to respond. If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be HMRC, hang up and call HMRC directly on their published number to verify.
Could I face real tax issues after reporting a fake HMRC contact?
No — reporting a scam impersonating HMRC to the real HMRC does not trigger any investigation of your actual tax affairs. The two matters are entirely separate.