Guidance

Confirm the identity of someone representing HMRC

Verify the identity of an officer from HMRC or an HMRC collector if they contact you in person.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
5 September 2023
Last updated
16 January 2026 — See all updates

Confirm an HMRC officer’s identity

Anyone who is representing HMRC will always identify themselves and explain the reason why they are visiting you.

If you are in any doubt as to the identity of an HMRC officer, you can contact HMRC to check their details and confirm they are representing HMRC.

Face to face contact

The officer will identify themselves by showing you their HMRC identification card, which will have their name, photograph and HMRC serial number on it.

  1. Make a note of the officer’s name and serial number on the card.
  2. The officer will give you a telephone number (03000 565656) to call.
  3. When you call the number, you will be connected to an HMRC adviser. Give the name and serial number from the identification card to the adviser, so they can confirm that the officer represents HMRC.

The telephone number you receive from the HMRC officer is:

  • available 24 hours a day
  • only for verifying the identity of HMRC officers

You should not use this telephone number to contact HMRC for general enquiries.

If you do have a general enquiry you can contact HMRC.

Find out about call charges.

Confirm an HMRC collector’s identity

An HMRC collector will usually visit you between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

If a collector visits you at any other time and you want to confirm their identity, arrange an appointment with them to return between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

The collector will show you their HMRC identification card which will have their name, photograph and HMRC serial number on it.

  1. Make a note of the name and serial number on the card.
  2. Phone HMRC on 0300 200 3862.
  3. Give the name and serial number on the card to the adviser, so they can confirm that the collector represents HMRC.

Find out about call charges.

Get more information

You can check a list of genuine HMRC contacts to help you decide if any contact you have received is from HMRC, or is a scam from a fraudster.

Report suspicious HMRC emails, texts, social media accounts and phone calls

Contact HMRC to report a suspicious email, social media account, phone call or text message that mentions HMRC.

Updates to this page

Published 5 September 2023
Last updated 16 January 2026 show all updates

  1. The telephone number to confirm an officer's identity has been updated. Information has been added on how to report suspicious HMRC emails, texts, social media accounts and phone calls.

  2. The process to confirm the identity of an HMRC officer and the telephone number to call has been updated.

  3. How to confirm the identity of an HMRC officer and the telephone number to call has been updated.

  4. The phone number to confirm a HMRC FIS officer’s identity if you’re visited Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm has been updated.

  5. Welsh translation added.

  6. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents