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Check an accountant’s quote
before you sign.

Got a quote, engagement letter or “tax refund” message that doesn’t feel right? Paste it below to see the warning signs HMRC tells people to look for, and what to ask next.

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The warning signs we check for most often:

Asking for your HMRC sign-in details
“HMRC approved” schemes or untaxed pay
Guaranteed refunds, or fees taken from your refund
Pressure to sign today, or terms that are hard to leave

It never says a quote is safe. It points out what to check.

The warning signs we check for

Asks for your HMRC sign-in details. HMRC says you must not share your HMRC sign in details with anyone, including your tax agent. Its standard for agents says an agent must never ask a client for them. Someone using your details could act in your name.
Looks like a fake HMRC refund or payment message. HMRC says you will never get an email, text, app message or phone call from it telling you about a tax rebate or penalty, or asking for personal or payment details. It also never asks you to pay with gift or payment vouchers.
Says something is "HMRC approved". HMRC does not approve tax avoidance schemes. GOV.UK says that if a promoter tells you a scheme is HMRC approved, it is not.
Part of your pay is said to be untaxed. GOV.UK lists signs of disguised remuneration schemes: some of your pay not taxed, payments described as loans, annuities, bonuses or shares, and high advertised take-home pay. Tax and interest can be due later, sometimes years later.
Promises a guaranteed tax result. HMRC warns against tax advice that sounds too good to be true without explaining the risks. Its standard for agents requires advertising to be fair, clear and accurate. Nobody can guarantee what HMRC will repay or accept.
The fee is a share of a tax refund. Repayment agents can be legitimate, but HMRC introduced protections after concerns about them. You can choose whether a repayment goes to an agent through a nomination you can cancel, and agents must explain how they are paid and offer a cancellation period.
R&D claim on commission or "no win, no fee". HMRC has said some agents give poor or incorrect advice about R&D relief, leading to spurious claims. The company stays responsible for its claim, and advisers must now be named on it.
Pressure to decide quickly. HMRC advises avoiding tax advice that pressures you to act quickly or suggests "everyone does this".
Check how you can leave. HMRC's standard for agents expects a reasonable cancellation period, and terms agreed before work starts. Minimum terms, automatic renewal or exit charges are not wrong in themselves, but you should understand them.
Your records may be held back. If you change accountants later, the new firm will ask the old one for information it needs. A term allowing a firm to keep your books or documents until a bill is paid can slow that down.
Charged by the hour with no estimate. HMRC's standard expects an agent to explain how it will be paid. ICAEW guidance says engagement letters should set out the fee arrangements.
Work or payment before written terms. HMRC's standard says an agent should agree the terms of engagement before acting for a client and get the client's confirmation that they accept them.

What next?

Check the firm, and know where to go if something is wrong.

Check the firm yourself

Find the firm on the Companies House register and in our directory. Ask which professional body it belongs to and who supervises it for anti-money laundering; every accountancy business must be supervised, by a professional body or by HMRC (GOV.UK). Contact the firm using details from its own website, not only the ones in a message.

Give access the right way

Never share your HMRC sign-in details. Your accountant should ask you to authorise them through HMRC instead (how authorising an agent works).

Got a suspicious “HMRC” message?

Don’t click links or reply. Forward emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to60599 (GOV.UK).

Already paid or shared details?

Contact your bank straight away if you’ve paid. Report the loss toReport Fraud on0300 123 2040 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or to Police Scotland on101. If you gave personal details in reply to a fake HMRC message, tell phishing@hmrc.gov.uk what you shared, without repeating the details.

A complaint about an accountant

Complain to the firm in writing first, using its complaints procedure. If that doesn’t resolve it, go to its professional body. ICAEW asks you to give the firm at least 28 days and ACCA four weeks (ICAEW, ACCA). ICAEW says it cannot order compensation or settle fee disputes.

How it works

Fixed rules, with sources you can check.

How does the quote checker work?

It compares the text you paste with fixed rules written from HMRC and professional body guidance, each linked to its source. The check runs in your browser: the text is not sent or saved. Results have four levels and never say that a quote or firm is safe.

Does the quote checker use AI?

No. It uses fixed rules that we wrote and review, so the same text always gives the same result and every warning can be traced to its source.

What are its limits?

It looks for common patterns only. “No warning signs found” does not mean a quote is fair or a firm is trustworthy. Check the firm through official registers and ask for written terms before you sign.

Rules last reviewed on 15 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Our editorial policy.