Helpful email warns agent to get code from client before expiry date
We all receive so many emails now that with so many warnings about fraudulent internet activity, it can be hard to work out which emails are genuine.
A member contacted us recently to find out whether an email received from ChRIS@hmrc.gov.uk was genuine. Usually we ask for any unusual emails to be forwarded directly to HMRC as requested on its website, but the message in this email was new to us. It is being sent to agents to remind them that an authorisation code which has been posted to a client to activate an online filing service for a particular tax, is about to expire.
“You have recently requested an authorisation code to enable you to act online for your client(s). The authorisation code is due to expire for the following client(s). Client Name Agent Client Reference Service Expiry Date Bloggins LLP XX/ABC123 HMCE-VATDEC-ORG 26-08-2010 If you wish to be authorised for this client, you will need to enter the authorisation code by this date, otherwise your request will be deleted. You would then need to repeat the process by requesting a new authorisation code. Please do not reply to this e-mail as it has been automatically generated. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please delete it immediately.”
We have asked HMRC whether these emails are genuine. They are. The Online Agent Authorisation sends out such emails to give agents the opportunity to give their clients a gentle ‘nudge’ if their client has been slow to pass on the code. The emails are generated by the ChRIS component (Channel Routing Interface Service) of its system, hence the unusual e-mail address.
Don’t forget though – better safe than sorry. Don’t hesitate to report any strange internet or email traffic.