Revenue.ie Tax Refund Email Scam
High RiskGot a message, call or offer like this?
Take your time. Treat it as a scam until you have checked it yourself.
- Don't tap links, reply, or ring numbers it gives you. On a call, hang up.
- Don't pay, and don't share card details, PINs, passwords or codes.
- Check with whoever it claims to be, using contact details you find yourself.
Overview
This phishing email pretends to be from Revenue.ie, claiming you are owed a tax refund and asking you to click a link and provide personal or banking details. The email may look very convincing with Revenue branding, but it leads to a fake website designed to steal your information.
What This Scam Looks Like
Tap a highlighted part to see why it's suspicious. Every red flag is also listed under the message.
Tax Refund Notification - €847.50 Owed to You2: red flag 2, show whyRevenue never emails about refunds - check myAccount instead
This message looks suspicious. Be careful with links and attachments.
Red flags in this message
- 1
Sender: Revenue Ireland <[email protected]>
Fake domain! Real Revenue emails come from @revenue.ie
- 2
Subject: Tax Refund Notification - €847.50 Owed to You
Revenue never emails about refunds - check myAccount instead
- 3
“€847.50”
Specific amount makes it seem legitimate - but Revenue uses myAccount
- 4
“5 working days”
False deadline creates urgency
- 5
“https://revenue-ie-refunds.com/claim-now”
Fake URL! Real Revenue website is revenue.ie
- 6
“Bank account details”
Revenue already has your details on file
- 7
“Photo ID”
Revenue never asks for photo ID via email
Typical Targets
- •Anyone who pays taxes in Ireland
- •PAYE workers expecting refunds
- •Self-employed individuals
- •People who have recently interacted with Revenue
Why This Scam Works
- •Everyone likes money – a refund is appealing
- •Official Revenue branding looks legitimate
- •Many people are due legitimate refunds
- •Urgency ("claim within 5 days")
- •Fake websites look like the real Revenue site
Example
A Wicklow woman received an email saying she was owed €847.50 in tax refund. The email had the Revenue logo and looked official. She clicked the link and entered her bank details and PPS number. Within days, €2,300 was taken from her account, and she received bills for a phone contract opened in her name.
* An illustration of how this scam works, not from a victim case we hold.
How to Avoid This Scam
- Revenue NEVER sends refund notifications by email
- Check your tax status only through myAccount at revenue.ie
- Look at the sender's email address carefully
- Hover over links to see the real URL before clicking
- If in doubt, go directly to revenue.ie – don't click email links
- Revenue already has your details – they don't need to ask
If You've Been Caught Out
Don't panic – take these steps immediately:
- 1Contact your bank immediately to freeze your account
- 2Report to Revenue at [email protected]
- 3Report to An Garda Síochána
- 4Change passwords for any accounts that use the same password
- 5Monitor your credit for signs of identity theft
- 6Get your credit report from the Central Credit Register, run by the Central Bank of Ireland. It is free, and it lists loans of €500 or more in your name. If you think someone may borrow in your name, ask it to place a notice of suspected impersonation on your report. The notice lasts 90 days, and any lender that checks your report will see it
* This information is for guidance only. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.
Who to Contact for Help
Your Bank
Check your card
Freeze account immediately
An Garda Síochána
Local station
Report the fraud
Central Credit Register (Central Bank of Ireland)
centralcreditregister.ieGet your credit report free, or place a notice of suspected impersonation on it. Apply online or by post, not by phone
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New scam warnings and safety tips, as we publish them.