This Content Was Last Updated on November 5, 2015 by Jessica Garbett
From HMR, in their own words, via TOP (Tax Help for Older People)
Every year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has to visit a small number of customers who have not paid their tax or arranged to repay overpayments of tax credits, in order to collect the debt. Visits are undertaken by Debt Management and Banking’s Field Force Collectors and can take place at a customer’s home or business premises. Advance warning is always provided to a customer that a visit may take place if a debt is not paid.
However, when faced with an unknown caller on the doorstep, our customers may still be concerned. To provide a safeguard against bogus callers in these situations, HMRC has introduced a new Field Force Verification Helpline, so that a customer can easily check whether or not a caller on their doorstep claiming to be from HMRC is, in fact, genuine.
To access the helpline, customers should follow these simple steps:
- Ask to see the Collector’s photo ID
- Make a note of the ID number on the photo ID
- call 0300 200 3862
- Provide HMRC with the ID number you’ve noted
Our operators will then be able to confirm to you whether or not your caller is genuinely an HMRC Collector.
To help to explain the purpose of the visit and the rights and responsibilities of customers, we have also produced a new leaflet. Every customer visited, from 13 August onwards, will be given a copy of this by the Collector on arrival at the customer’s premises. This also includes the Field Force Verification Helpline number. The number is also listed at our website.