HMRC just called

HMRC phone call

Didn't find your answer?

I may have p!55ed them off.

HMRC just called regarding a client company. Asked the RO of the company, and since it's in the public domain, I logged onto Companies House and told him what was there. He went on to ask other "security" questions, at which point I stopped him, pointed out that he could be anybody, and he needed to satisfy me of his identity first. I asked for their office address. Off he went to find a manager to ask what to do, couldn't find one and said he'd have to call back.

I pointed out that we are ICAEW regulated, have data protection obligations, and despite his protestations that he'd never been asked that before, he may be asked more frequently following the introduction of GDPR.

Waiting for the call back, and wondering how upset I made him.

Replies (19)

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
20th Dec 2017 15:34

Do that all the time for precisely the same reason.

It's especially amusing when some of them repeatedly say "But I am from HMRC!" and don't understand when I tell them anyone could say that.

You have blown your scepticism with the title though. It should read "HMRC allegedly just called" :-)

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By Ruddles
20th Dec 2017 15:51

SteLacca wrote:
HMRC just called regarding a client company. Asked the RO of the company

I would simply have referred them to Companies House website.

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Replying to Ruddles:
By SteveHa
20th Dec 2017 16:01

I told him that was where I was going and to hang on a sec. I think the irony went right over his head.

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Replying to SteveHa:
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By The Innkeeper
20th Dec 2017 16:13

We always ask them for our agent id number. If they cant find it we tell them to write in with the question - thinking we will take as long to reply as they do

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
20th Dec 2017 16:16

its almost certainly debt collection.

Which as I always say to them, contact my client, not me.

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By claudialowe
20th Dec 2017 16:49

I am always happy(?) to give them my details (as again they are in the public domain) but refuse to give any details about the company until they have, at the very least, given my relevant agent code. It is very rare that they do this, so back to a letter about 3 months later!

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By andy.partridge
20th Dec 2017 16:58

I tell them I have a rule. If I call them I answer their security questions. If they call me they have to answer mine.
Childish but effective.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
20th Dec 2017 18:18

Tell them it's the Government's rules. You don't agree with them but you have to stick with them all the same.

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By Manchester_man
20th Dec 2017 23:27

I had the same phone call very recently. I refused give the client's paye reference.
Half an hour later I get a call from the client who had himself received a call straight after I did. It was about CIS deducted being (for the first time) more than CIS suffered and that the account was now in debit.

Client advised that we are just about to submit an EPS with a further 18k cis suffered.

So basically, as stated above, it is almost certainly the Debt management team calling.

Really bugs me the way they come on the phone with the attitude that they are doing us a favour by speaking to us. The guy who called me said, quite proudly "I won't be able to discuss this with you today then I'm afraid and will have to end the call".

My response "ok... Is there anything else I can help you with today sir?"

The line then went dead.

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By JCresswellTax
21st Dec 2017 09:26

HMRC- 'I'm sorry but we can't discuss the matter further'.

Me - 'that's fine as I have no idea what the matter is anyway'.

HMRC - 'I will give you a deadline to call back of 8pm tonight'

Me - 'ok can you put a note on the file though?'

HMRC - 'yes certainly'

Me - 'I will not be calling back by 8pm tonight, or at all. I have no idea what the matter is, but do not deal with client debt collection and I am guessing that is what this is'

Hmrc - *hangs up

Do this regularly.

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By CazzyT
21st Dec 2017 10:40

I agree we need to quiz them and be sure of who is calling.

"HMRC" called a client of mine the other day concerning a debt but it was ok, because they were willing to accept payment in iTunes vouchers!

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Replying to CazzyT:
RLI
By lionofludesch
21st Dec 2017 10:52

When they ask for Bitcoin, it's time to put the phone down.

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By johnjenkins
29th Dec 2017 10:28

It really is a shame that not so long ago you culd pick up the phone, talk to Mrs whatshername and sort out a problem in a couple of minutes (CIS Ltd companies used to take a little longer - maybe 5). Now we have an agent phone line where they will e-mail the relevant tax office with the query and sometimes get back to you. More often than not you have to contact the "account manager". What an outdated way of doing things. Still MTD will eliminate all the errors won't it?

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blue sheep
By NH
29th Dec 2017 11:16

Compare that with Co House, we had an email from a lady at Companies House regarding a client and incorrect PSC details, the email invited me in a very polite manner to call Co House on the official number to sort it out.
We did that and the problem was quickly and easily sorted.

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By Mr J Andrews
29th Dec 2017 12:22

The answer to HMRC's question must only be :-
''Why have you telephoned me to request this info ?''
The waste of time should then be cut to 20 seconds.
The dumbness of anyone answering ''security'' questions to a phone call from HMRC defies logic.

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By Anthony G Thorne
29th Dec 2017 12:37

I had a call from HMRC wanting to go through security before they could proceed so politely pointed out that they had phoned me and I need to take them through my security. My question was who is the Permanent Secretary of HMRC which they were unable to answer so I suggested that they should write and terminated the call. To date no letter received.

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All Paul Accountants in Leeds
By paulinleeds
29th Dec 2017 22:54

I agreed with you.

I was asked to give a reference to a bank about client's income over the last three years. I put a password on the PDFed Word letter report which was the client's date of birth that the bank already had.

Bank said passworded PDF could not pass their security due to password encrypted PDF and they could not open. I was asked to re email with no password.

I replied stating that I banked with the same bank and asked if they'd email me my current bank balances. They said no.

When i asked why they would not email to me they said 'data protectio n act' at which point i replied ditto and GDPR.

I was not willing to send confidential data by non password protected email attachment.

It seems these organisations are somewhat two faced! They want us to send them the data but will not reciprocate.

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By Ammie
31st Dec 2017 10:14

I pretty much do the same as you.

They need to pass security in the same way I have to.

Strangely, HMRC think their say is enough because of who they are!! Not in my office it's not.

I would agree with others in that it is quite likely one of their "subbies" collecting money, who also want separate authority to talk to me anyway!

Admittedly, when it is a collecting agency I enjoy reaching a dead end with them if I don't have authority, particularly when they have called me and need to deliver back to HMRC. A dose of their own medicine!!

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