High riskGovernment & Tax

Tax Credits Renewal Scam

This scam impersonates a tax authority about tax credits, claiming you must renew, verify, or that a payment is pending, to collect your bank and personal details or a bogus fee.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Tax authority impersonation (phishing)
Main red flag
A tax credits renewal or payment message asking for bank details or a fee via a link.
What to do first
Check tax credits only through your official tax authority account or helpline.

How this scam works

This scam impersonates a tax authority about tax credits, claiming you must renew, verify, or that a payment is pending, to collect your bank and personal details or a bogus fee.

Government and tax scams impersonate tax authorities, police, or agencies, using threats of arrest, fines, or deportation to force fast payment, often via gift cards, transfers, or crypto. Real agencies do not demand instant payment this way or threaten arrest by phone.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A tax credits renewal or payment message asking for bank details or a fee via a link. Check tax credits only through your official tax authority account or helpline.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Benefits Payment Scam and the Child Benefit Scam. See the full Government, Tax & Legal Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A renewal or payment-on-hold message with a link
  • Requests for bank or personal details
  • A fee to 'continue' or 'release' credits
  • A sender not from the official tax authority
  • Pressure to act before a deadline

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Your tax credits payment is on hold. Renew and confirm your bank details to continue receiving it: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A tax credits renewal or payment message asking for bank details or a fee via a link.

The scale of it

$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Gift cards
a top payment method scammers demand, which real agencies never use
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

How to protect yourself

  • Check tax credits through your official tax authority account or helpline
  • Never confirm bank details or pay fees via a link
  • Verify any message with the authority directly
  • Report and delete the message

Already responded? Do this now

  • Do not enter bank or personal details on the page
  • If you shared details, contact your bank and the authority
  • Monitor for identity misuse
  • Report it and keep evidence

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not renew tax credits through a message link
  • Do not pay a fee to 'continue' credits
  • Do not share bank details to 'verify'

Related scams to know

Medium risk Government & Tax

Benefits Payment Scam

This scam claims you qualify for a benefit, grant, or cost-of-living payment and asks you to 'apply' by entering personal and bank details on a fake government-looking site that harvests the information.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Government & Tax

Child Benefit Scam

This scam impersonates a child benefit or child support agency, claiming you must update details, verify eligibility, or that a payment is pending, to collect your bank and personal details or a bogus fee.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Government & Tax

Fake HMRC Tax Scam

This scam uses a text, call, or email posing as HMRC. It claims you owe tax and face arrest, or are due a refund, then pressures you to pay or hand over bank details through a link or over the phone.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Does the tax authority text or email renewal links?
Tax credits are managed through the official account or helpline, not a message demanding bank details or a fee via a link. Treat such messages as phishing.
Is there a fee to keep tax credits?
No. Genuine tax credits do not require a fee to 'continue' or 'release'. A fee request is a clear scam sign.
I shared my bank details. What now?
Contact your bank and the tax authority, monitor for identity misuse, and report the scam, keeping your evidence.
How do I check my tax credits safely?
Use your official tax authority account or helpline found independently, not a link in an unexpected message.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.