HMRC pauses some refund claims for agents
Due to security concerns, HMRC has warned that it will not process refund claims made by authorised agents. What’s going on and what alternatives are available?
An increase in fraudulent requests for money to be repaid has led HMRC to stop accepting claims made by phone, even where there is an appropriate authority in place. This includes the agent dedicated line, and the online webchat. Agents are being advised to make a claim via a tax return or through their Agent Services Account. It is currently not clear if, or when, phone requests will start to be accepted again. In addition, HMRC is asking agents to:
- be extra vigilant for phishing scams
- choose strong passwords and to change them regularly; and
- pay close attention to HMRC’s advice regarding account security, particularly in the event of an agent account suspension.
Related Topics
-
HMRC reminds employers to check tax codes at start of new tax year
HMRC is reminding employers to review PAYE coding notices as the 2026/27 tax year gets underway. With new tax codes now in operation, what should you be looking out for?
-
Salary v dividends in 2026/27
Dividend tax rates have increased by 2% for 2026/27. Add that on to the other recent tax hikes and it starts to look very expensive to run a company. Is the combination of a low salary topped up with dividends still tax efficient?
-
Electronic VAT return due