Welcome to the July 2025 Newsletter from Beatons Group

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has urged taxpayers to check their HMRC online account following an attempt by fraudsters to make false tax refund claims. HMRC is contacting those affected with information on how they can regain access to their accounts.

HMRC system attack is a timely reminder to keep personal data safe

Taxpayers are being urged to check their online HMRC account after scammers attempted to defraud the tax authority using individuals' data and login details.

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is also reminding people of the importance of being vigilant and taking care of personal data.

HMRC recently announced that criminals had targeted the online tax accounts of nearly 100,000 taxpayers to try to make false tax refund claims.

In some cases, HMRC has said that criminals gained people's login credentials and made use of existing online tax accounts. But, in others, they gained personal data that enabled them to set up new online tax accounts via the Government Gateway.

HMRC has locked down the compromised accounts as a precaution. It is writing to those affected with details on how they can regain access to their accounts.

Joanne Walker, Technical Officer at LITRG, said: 'HMRC has confirmed that it was the victim of online scammers who tried to defraud it of money using the details of individual taxpayers.

'While HMRC says this attack has not resulted in any tax-related financial loss for individual taxpayers, it is a timely reminder that fraud is an ongoing threat.'

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