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The following are the currect scams/frauds HM Revenue & Customs are aware of.
Press Release from HM Revenue and Customs
"Fraud Alert - Bogus Inland Revenue Forms P86"
"We have become aware of a letter purporting to be from the Inland Revenue (which integrated with Customs and Excise on 18 April 2005 to form Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) which asks for personal information from taxpayers employed outside the UK.
The letter is accompanied by a bogus copy of form P86 and asks for personal bank account details.
These documents have not been issued by the Inland Revenue (HMRC). The letter is signed by a Fiona Delaney.
The Inland Revenue logo, telephone and fax numbers and the address on the letterhead are all false.
Employers are urged to advise their overseas employees to ignore such letters and to report the incident to the Police."
HM Revenue & Customs are aware of a number of scams aimed at persuading taxpayers to complete a form revealing their bank or credit card details, on the pretext that a payment of tax will be paid directly into their bank account.
Previous forms, have shown a potential tax rebate from:
- HMRC Premier Services - with the name 'Premier Services' in a green box.
- HM Revenue & Customs using the email address of admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
An example of this scam follows:
A picture of an email sent from HM Revenue & Customs showing
From: HM Revenue & Customs [admin@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk]
Sent: 02 February 2007 16:16
To:
Subjet: HM Revenue & Customs - Notification
HM Revenue & Customs
Please note: After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligable to receive a tax refund of One hundred & seventy Pounds.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to process it. A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.
To access the form for your tax refund click here
A picture of a book headed HM Revenue & Customs is shown to the right of the text.
A fake is being sent requesting a cheque for an underpayment of tax. This form does not exist within HM Revenue & Customs, and no monies should be sent. (Link to example.)
This is a scam alleging that HMRC require payment of Non Resident Inheritance Tax before a supposed inheritance or windfall can be released.
This is a scam involving postal items supposedly being stopped by Customs that require the purchase of an Anti-Terrorist Certificate before being released. There is no such certificate in existence within HM Revenue & Customs.
This scam is aimed at people who supposedly have already been the subject of a fraud attempt. The email requests personal details on the pretext that compensation will be paid. An example of this scam follows:
HER MAJESTY CUSTOMS AND REVENUE COMMISSION
50 Hall Martins Street
London United Kingdom
44-70-40124-973
44-7011146-604
44-70-1113-2707
44-70-00804-579 (FAX)
paulgray@hmcustomsrevenue.com
admin@hmcustomsrevenue.com
Dear Victim,
COMPENSATION OF SWINDLED VICTIMS
Importantly, for introduction purpose, I am Mr. Paul Gray, acting chairman, Her Majesty Customs and Revenue Commission.
Sequel to complaints received as regards some foreigners who lost their hard-earned money either by the form of false estate, contracts or victims of swindlers. consequent to memorandum of understanding reached with the affected Africa countries (nigeria, ghana etc), we have decided to compensate proven victims. More so, considering the fact that most of these swindlers falsely use government agency names and logos in perpetuating this illegal act. The British government and the affected African countries have deemed it feet to verify various reports with the view to make adequate reconciliation by paying compensations (amount lost) to the affected victim/s.
We have forwarded this memo to you because your name falls amongst the shortlisted victims presented to us for urgent and necessary attention. This initiative was borne out of british government desire to boost its campaign against corruption particularly countries of africa. please help fight corruption in Africa.
The British government in conjunction with the affected Africa countries (African Development Bank) has established a Victims Redress and Compensation Funds (VRCFs). The funds is absolutely meant for the sincere compensation of all affected victim/s. Her Majesty Customs and Revenue Commission solely supervises, monitors and allocates compensation.
As a matter of urgency, do not delay to contact us as soon as you receive this email message to enable us expedite action for the payment of your lost actual amount immediately.
In your response, for proper analysis and adequate compensation fixed, please provide the following information:
Total amount lost..........................
Age.............................
Telephone.....................................
Fax.................................
Sex...............................
On our receipt of the requested information, you shall receive your compensation within forty eight hours.
It may interest you to know that we have limited resources. We have about fifty thousand claims. Your immediate response will an added advantage.
PLEASE ALSO PASS THIS INFORMATION TO PERSON OR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN SWINDLED WITHIN THE LAST PAST TEN YEARS. THE AFFECTED PERSON/S SHOULD CONTACTED US WITH OUR ABOVE PROVIDED INFORMATION.
Paul Gray
Unsolicited emails are being issued advising the recipient may be entitled to Child Benefit. A non-Departmental email address and mobile numbers are being used as the contact points for this scam. An example follows:
Child Benefit And Income Support
Child Benefit Office (GB)
PO Box 1
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE88 1AA
Tel: 079080452325/Textphone: 07852432168
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Good day,
From the table of the Child Benefit management in conjunction with the Income Support office, we noticed that for a very long time now you’ve not applied for the Child benefit/income support which you have the right to apply for. We decided to send you this message so as to remind you to apply as soon as possible.
Remember on no condition should you give out your details or information (online) to any organization or corporate bodies. We do not wish to have your details online for your convenience.
For further enquiries please call………………
079080452325
Or
07852432168
Or email us at cbismail@yahoo.co.uk
Pls note: This message is for those who have the right to apply for the Income support and Child benefit only.
Thanks for your support to your right of Benefit.
MANAGEMENT
WARNING: Do not reply back to this mail, contact the above phone numbers and email address.
A number of frauds state that a parcel containing a cheque in respect of lottery winnings, or a legacy left in a will, has been held up by Customs at an airport or dock and requires payment of a percentage of the winnings. This will be a fraud. (Link to example.)
Telephone Variations
A new variant of scam Export Clearance Process (Delivery Stop Order) is that the individual may be contacted by telephone rather than email.
HM Revenue & Customs have seen examples where taxpayers are contacted by someone purporting to be from HM Customs and Excise, claiming that for a payment of £400 by wire transfer, they would release goods to them worth £250,000. Please note that the Department does not contact taxpayers in this way. One telephone number used in this fraud is 0207 099 2114.
Another variation is to claim that a lottery ticket in your name has won and for an advance release fee HMCE or HMRC will release substantial sums of money. Often the advance fee is to be paid into an account overseas. Again, this is a fraud and the Department does not contact customers in this way.
Tax Changes to Offshore Bank Accounts
If you are living in the UK, and have an offshore bank account say with an Isle of Man or Channel Islands bank, then you need to be aware of the following.
On 1 July 2005, the EU Savings Tax Directive was introduced meaning that EU banks have to disclose to tax authorities, certain details about non-resident clients who are residents of other EU countries. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are also covered by this Directive. Some countries including the above, have agreed rather than exchanging this information with the relevant tax authorities, they will deduct at source from interest received, a new witholding tax, which for the next 3 years will be 15% (after 3 years this will eventually increase to 35%). It is possible for this tax to be avoided if you:
1. Agree to the appropriate exchange of information to occur; or
2. You apply to HM Revenue & Customs for a certificate, which states this withholding tax is not necessary.
Some banks in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man have been informing clients that as long as they are non-UK domiciles and taxed on the remittance basis, then they will not withhold this 15% tax and there is no need to go down one of the above routes. However, the Revenue have indicated that they do not necessarily agree with this view, therefore, if you are affected by the new Directive as described above, it may be safer to go down one of the prescribed routes mentioned above, if you don't want withholding tax to be deducted from your interest.
If you have any queries or wish to discuss the above or any other aspect of your tax affairs, please contact Juliet Connolly from UK Expat
Contact us now for further details
Topics:
Many people leaving the UK do not realise they may still have an ongoing tax liability in the UK. Equally, they may have a repayment of UK tax when they leave. This fact sheet aims to highlight the key tax issues you should be considering when leaving the UK and what tax obligations you are under when you depart the UK
Click here for more information
Many people arriving in the UK often do not appreciate that most tax planning should have been done prior to arriving in the UK.
This can often lead to them missing out on generous tax savings and paying UK tax unnecessarily.
This fact sheet aims to highlight the key tax issues you should be considering when arriving in the UK and what tax obligations you are under.
Click here for more information
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