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Mr Paul Clifton

Warning: Scam letters - Call HMRC on 0300 200 3819

Updated: Nov 20, 2023

This is a blog article on a website of a firm of accountant. Please do not telephone us regarding letters you receive from HMRC that you think may be scam letters. You should instead telephone HMRC on its official published telephone number of 0300 200 3310.

Alternatively, write to HMRC at PAYE & Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS and send them copies of the letters that you have received in the post. To confirm these contact details are genuine go to the HMRC Self Assessment and PAYE website.


We are aware of scam letters being sent to employers stating that HMRC have not received payment for outstanding amounts owed.


The scammers are demanding payment of an outstanding tax liability and/or penalties and asking you to call an 0300 200 **** number to discuss payment. One such number giving us, and many others, concern is 0300 200 3819.


These letters looks extremely authentic and give the impression that they are genuine. They may also show a fake PAYE reference at the top right-hand side e.g. 120 P Y 02765825.


Once investigated, the tax amounts requested may not even be due. The bank details provided are not that of HMRC.


Even though the letters appear to be from HMRC and look extremely good, they are scams. We found that:

  • The telephone number is similar to those used by HMRC, starting 0300 200

  • The payment reference is not be correct for the business receiving the letter

  • HMRC never ask you to call before paying; they just ask you to pay


HMRC letters always come on brown recycled poor-quality paper. The fake letters are on normal white A4 paper.


We have telephoned the number ourselves, before entering 141 (to block our own telephone number), just to try and check out the number. The person that answers the call sounds extremely legitimately. They go through all the usual HMRC protocol, with press X for agents and X businesses. The music and answer messages all sound real.


We speak to HMRC almost daily, so we are used to what you hear and what you are asked when going through HMRC security. Eventually, I asked them to prove that the number was genuine which they could not. They told us to go to www.gov.uk, but couldn't then direct me further. They then told us to ring 0300 200 3200. This is a genuine HMRC Employers Helpline.


We have spoken with other accountants who have done the same as us. They also said that if persist that they just pass you through to a genuine HMRC number.


If you Google the telephone number of 0300 200 3819 on the letter, it will show warnings of the HMRC scam. Check this who-called.co.uk website too.


If you receive a letter or tax demand from HMRC for a payment that you are not sure about, or you would like to discuss the letters from HMRC, please contact us.


You can also read a similar article where we made every reasonable attempt possible to authenticate another HMRC 'scam number', which finally, after considerable digging, was proved to be a genuine HMRC number. See https://www.all-paul.co.uk/post/simple-assessment-letters-call-hmrc-on-0300-322-7835.


If we, as accountants, who see genuine HMRC letters and speak with HMRC daily, are having concerns and problems authenticating these numbers with HMRC, through official channels, then how can honest unrepresented taxpayers feel comfortable about such letters themselves?


Write to HMRC at 'PAYE & Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS' with copies of any letters that you receive that you think are scam letters from HMRC. Alternatively, telephone them on 0300 200 3310.

36,263 views8 comments

8 Comments


Mr Paul Clifton
Nov 20, 2023

Write to HMRC at 'PAYE & Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS' with copies of any letters that you receive that you think are scam letters from HMRC. Alternatively, telephone them on 0300 200 3310.

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Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Aug 16, 2023

I received another one of these letters this morning after ignoring the first one due to this web page making me think it was a scam. Called HMRC on their 0300 200 3200 number (because I didn't trust the 3819 number after reading this) and it turns out it is NOT a scam. The letter related to estimated charges that were applied to my account after I had registered as an employer but never employed anybody. HMRC said they would look into the proliferation of web pages claiming these letters are fake. This web page should be taken down, because ignoring these letters could prove costly for someone.

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Mr Paul Clifton
Aug 16, 2023
Replying to

Hi Rob. Your comments are noted. We, as accountants, are extremely concerned at the lack of transparency with this, and several other, telephone numbers being shown on apparent tax demands from HMRC. HMRC has been very unhelpful by NOT publishing this number on its official website. This blog has hit number one on Google worldwide because of the contents of this article, despite this being on the website of a small local firm of accountants. Even when we telephoned the number ourselves, to try and resolve it authenticity with HMRC, the call handler would not answer general questions about our concerns. We are not the only accountants who have voiced our concerns. We have decided to leave this post up…


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Susan Young
Susan Young
Aug 11, 2023

I got one today and called this number and was hold for 40 minutes

thank you for the warning

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Mr Paul Clifton
May 31, 2023

An 'official letter from HMRC' is probably not a genuine letter, i.e. a scam letter, if it shows completely the wrong PAYE reference for your business.

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Bruce Denney
Bruce Denney
May 04, 2023

Not a scam see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNJgS5a8cMA


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Jerry Williams
Jerry Williams
May 31, 2023
Replying to

'how do you explain receiving an official letter from HMRC, with completely the wrong tax amount and incorrect PAYE reference?'

I have received many letters from HMRC regarding my clients with incorrect details.

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