Bogus HMRC investigation letter?

jimmo

Its more than 10 years since I retired from HMRC and the email address you have given is in exactly the same format as we all had back then.
Also those of us who were "on the road" carried Warrant cards as photo identity so if you agree to meet this person make sure you see his Warrant Card as opposed to the more standard building pass (usually worn on a chain around the neck). Those are pretty anonymous and don't mention HMRC on them.
Also when we wanted to meet people we would offer to hold the meeting:
1) In their home
2) Their workplace
3) Their accountants' premises
4) Any convenient HMRC office

If you are in the slightest doubt insist that your meeting takes place on HMRC premises.

Cook_County

Parliament has given HMRC significant "dawn raid" powers https://www.taxation.co.uk/Articles/2017/09/26/336996/hmrc-s-criminal-investigation-powers

chrismac1

The problem here is that when these raids take place, in feel and approach they are not much like with dealing with the clued-up professional tax authorities of the 1990s.


They in fact feel a lot more like the high-pressure, spivvy conmen who attempt to pressurise vulnerable people into handing over money on the spot. There is not a single month goes by when some client or other does not contact me about what turns out to be a bogus e-mail or phone call puporting to be from HMRC.


As I said above, in my view the onus is very much on HMRC to stop behaving in the field like spivvy salespeople and start behaving like a professional tax authority.


Nothing highlights this more than my last VAT inspection, which was conducted by a true professional. Early doors he satisfied himself that the £60k he'd been sent to get was a wild goose chase, but still did really well and got £6k back where one of the client's suppliers, whose website features a Union Jack front and centre, was actually domiciled in Luxembourg and reverse charging VAT.


That was how just about all HMRC field people behaved 20 years ago - knowledgably, courteously, professionally. As we closed the meeting, he disclosed his job was being made redundant.


What an absolute bunch of wallies HMRC is run by!