How to protect your login details
You must not share your HMRC login details with anyone, including your tax agent if you have one. You should treat them with the same amount of care as your bank details.
Giving sensitive, personal information to other people, even without realising, puts you at risk. Someone using your login details could steal from you and HMRC.
Criminals use social media to try and find people to trick or persuade people into sharing their personal or login details.
They use these details to apply for fraudulent tax repayments from HMRC. They hide their own identity, which means the person whose details they’ve used will owe money to HMRC.
Their social media posts often advertise that they are ‘risk free’. They may also send direct messages to you through social media.
If you do share your details, you will be at risk of having to pay back the full tax debt created by the fraudsters in your name. Your bank account may be frozen, and fraudsters may post or sell your personal details online for anyone to use.
Reporting fraud to HMRC
You should report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC if you see social media adverts or posts promoting tax fraud requesting:
- HMRC login details
- National Insurance numbers
- other personal information
Find out how to report tax fraud or avoidance to HMRC.
There’s a different way to report suspicious HMRC emails, text messages and phone calls.
If you have been a victim of identity theft, or have…
