taxreturngateway.com

NickYCFC

I'm not sure if you're aware of the taxreturngateway website, but they are an accountancy firm advertising on Google. They offer a tax return completion service, whereby you key all the details, they check and it and submit for you.


I entered their website in error, as a 'first time' tax online tax returner, thinking it was the HMRC site. I was duped by the word Gateway, which I had keyed into the search engine. On opening the site, the first box I saw was one asking if I wanted to complete my tax return, which I did. I then entered all my details, still unaware I wasn't in the HMRC site. At the end, the site predicted I would owe £438 in tax and asked me for a payment of £450, without which they would not accept my return. I checked with my Chartered Accountant wife and decided it was reasonable for HMRC to request the payment...and submitted the money.


4 days later, I got post through from the HMRC telling me I was owed £600 in tax, so I called them to find out if that included the £450 I had already paid. Obviously, they knew nothing about it, so I went back to retrace my steps and found my error.


I am not claiming the site isn't clear about its business if you go looking for this information. My concern is that if you think you're in the right place, it's possible to submit a return and pay money without ever being told you're not in the official HMRC site and I think the misleading name, the site look and feel and the lack of clarity on the payment page all designed to enable that mistake.


I have raised this with the company on e-mail, but their response was a predicatable "Whilst mistaken returns being received by ourselves are rare we can not be held responsible for the clients lack of due care and attention whilst engaging our service. "


Having done some more digging into this, it seems I am not the first to have this issue. The thisismoney site have already reported on it. Please be aware of this. It was an expensive mistake.


Thanks,


Nick Sanderson.

wealdroam

Discussed on here only a few days ago...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4859906

boo_star

Not to sound "mean" but really?

It's only made worse by your accountant wife being fooled too.

Maybe we need mandatory lessons and/or a test before people are allowed on the internet.

If it's a government website or service, look for .gov.uk at the end of the address (before the first /)

hollydays

I don't believe it..

powerful_Rogue

NickYCFC wrote: »

I am not claiming the site isn't clear about its business if you go looking for this information. My concern is that if you think you're in the right place, it's possible to submit a return and pay money without ever being told you're not in the official HMRC site and I think the misleading name, the site look and feel and the lack of clarity on the payment page all designed to enable that mistake.

You dont need to go look though, its right there in front of you.

The huge comparison between TRG and HMRC on the front page.

The following warning :
We are not connected to or affiliated with HMRC, DWP or any other official government body. We offer a bespoke, value for money, tax return assistance service for which we levy a charge. You may submit your tax return directly to HMRC at no charge, without the benefits of our services, by visiting the official website.

This in bold letters so it stands out:

If you would rather deal with HMRC directly and submit your tax return at no additional cost, click here to access their official website.

Theres lots of other warnings as well. Also the fact the sites dont look similar.

NickYCFC

Thanks for the link and the other slightly smug responses. I've literally paid for my error - I was posting here to prevent others from doing the same. My point is simply this. If you aren't aware of these services and believe you are in the HMRC site (which as a first time user submitter, I believe is possible),and if your eye is drawn to the big blue 'Submit Your Tax Assessment Online Now!' button when you hit the landing screen, from that point on, you're on your own.

I missed the narrative on the first screen, for which I am eternally sorry, and paid a heavy price. I hope other contributers don't do the same.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Sorry you were caught out.

NickYCFC wrote: »

I was posting here to prevent others from doing the same.

If they don't do any research they won't see your warning. Sound familiar?

NickYCFC wrote: »

If you aren't aware of these services...

FYI there are similar unofficial sites for driving licences, passports, visas and goodness knows what. Take care.

dodger1

Quite frankly there is no need to warn about that website. Everything is crystal clear on their homepage with no attempt to hide anything.

Hoof_Hearted

Yes, there are warnings on the front page for driving licences, passports, EHICs, as well as tax returns. However, the intention is to deceive which, in my book, makes them scammers.

The psychology is to make the pages look like official ones, using similar colours and drawing attention away from the disclaimers, which are now mandatory.

There are lots of smart, smug people on here who would never be taken in, but being smart and smug doesn't help and I appreciate the OP's warning. Thank you.

powerful_Rogue

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Yes, there are warnings on the front page for driving licences, passports, EHICs, as well as tax returns. However, the intention is to deceive which, in my book, makes them scammers.

The psychology is to make the pages look like official ones, using similar colours and drawing attention away from the disclaimers, which are now mandatory.

There are lots of smart, smug people on here who would never be taken in, but being smart and smug doesn't help and I appreciate the OP's warning. Thank you.

I can count at least 5 various types of warnings. Plus this website looks nothing like that of HMRC.

Smart and smug?? Nope, Its called common sense - Reading what your about to purchase.

robatwork

I hate these websites, especially ones like these that buy google's keywords "self assessment" which is probably what you typed in. On some screens the light violet background that google uses to differentiate ads from real results just doesn't show up.


Similar tactics are used on Land Registry and DVLA searches too, and the websites tend to use the same colours as the official ones. In the case of this one that "government" green.


I think sites offering no added value to the official one should not be allowed to purchase those keywords, and ones just masquerading as official should be shut down.


However this site does offer a tiny bit of value in certain cases and their homepage says very clearly "We are not connected to or affiliated with HMRC, DWP or any other official government body. We offer a bespoke, value for money, tax return assistance service for which we levy a charge. You may submit your tax return directly to HMRC at no charge, without the benefits of our services, by visiting the official website." and even shows a submission fee.


Moneybox did a story on this a few weeks ago, with no decent conclusion.


I would sue your accountant.