How do I know if an HMRC letter is genuine?

A genuine HMRC letter always quotes your correct name, Unique Taxpayer Reference or company registration details, and a real HMRC office address you can look up independently.

It will explain which tax and period it concerns, and it will never demand instant payment by gift voucher, cryptocurrency, or transfer to a named individual's bank account.

If anything about the tone, urgency or payment method feels off, stop and verify before you respond or send any money.

HMRC's formal compliance powers sit in the Taxes Management Act 1970 and, for information requests, in Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008. You can read the underlying rules on [legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/9/schedule/36).

These statutes require HMRC to identify itself properly and set out the specific check or notice being raised. A letter that fails to reference any statutory power, tax year or company number is a warning sign.

HMRC also publishes guidance on gov.uk explaining exactly what genuine contact looks like, including which numbers and addresses it actually uses, so you can cross-check anything unexpected.

As a director, you are the person HMRC expects to respond on the company's behalf, so scam letters are often addressed directly to you at the registered office.

Fraudsters know that directors handle time pressure and financial demands regularly, which makes urgent-sounding tax letters an effective target. Treat any unexpected demand with the same scepticism you would apply to an unexpected invoice.

If a letter references a real enquiry you already know about, that does not automatically make every follow-up genuine. Scammers sometimes piggyback on real cases, so verify each new demand separately, especially requests for payment.

Verifying a letter costs you nothing but a phone call or a login to your HMRC account, while falling for a fake one can mean losing real money with little chance of recovery.

If the letter turns out to be a genuine compliance check, professional support can still reduce cost and stress. Growth plans include free tax investigation insurance, which covers professional fees if HMRC opens a genuine enquiry. See [/fees](/fees) for how this fits into your plan.

Getting early advice on a real letter is far cheaper than untangling a scam payment or a missed genuine deadline later.

Don't call the number printed on a suspicious letter; look up HMRC's contact details independently on gov.uk instead.

Don't assume a letter is fake just because it feels aggressive. Some genuine HMRC letters use firm language, so check the substance, not just the tone.

Don't ignore a letter while you decide whether it's real. If in doubt, verify quickly and respond within any stated deadline, since genuine time limits still apply regardless of your suspicion.