Cheltenham based chartered certified accountants Smith Heath are advising that only a few months after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced it would start contacting taxpayers by text to discuss their tax affairs, a warning has been issued regarding electronic communications from bogus organisations which offer to refund overpaid tax directly into the recipient's bank account, if they provide the details.

HMRC has made it clear that it does not contact taxpayers by email regarding tax refunds, and nor would it ever ask for bank details by text or email. If anyone is in doubt about any communication they get purporting to be from HMRC, they should not give out any information, and should instead report the details to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Tim Heath from Smith Heath said: "A further potential complication may arise from the fact that HMRC is now appointing private companies to collect tax, although it has pledged to inform anyone affected - so any taxpayer receiving unsolicited messages from anyone claiming to be such a company should again report it to HMRC."