This is nasty. People who are desperate to sort out their tax affairs, and who are trying to speak to HMRC, are being tricked into using a call connection service, which may charge £3.60 per minute plus a one-off connection fee.

When a taxpayer searches for the HMRC number using an online search engine the first few results will be adverts for call connection services.

If the taxpayer clicks on the call connection service, all of the time they are holding on waiting to speak to HMRC increases their phone bill. In one example an individual was charged £140 for a single call to HMRC as they inadvertently used a call connection service that was routed through a premium rate number (numbers beginning 09, 087 or 084).

The HMRC helpline numbers usually begin with 03, which means the call should cost no more than standard UK landline numbers. The main self-assessment helpline number is: 0300 200 3310.