A warning has been issued by HMRC (Image: bymuratdeniz via Getty Images)
HMRC has issued an urgent warning to pensioners this morning, stating they “are being warned to be on high alert for scams as the recovery of Winter Fuel Payments begins this month”. The tax authority revealed that almost two million people were expected to repay their winter 2025 payment due to their annual income being more than £35,000 – for most, an automatic process.
HMRC reported more than 25,000 Winter Fuel Payment scam referrals over the past 12 months, cautioning that fraudsters may now exploit the recovery process as a hook to target this group via texts, emails and phone calls. For the majority, the payment will be recouped through an adjustment to their PAYE tax code from this month (April 2026), with no requirement to contact HMRC.
For those in Self Assessment who file online, the payment should be pre-populated in their 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by January 31, 2027. Customers should check and add it manually if it is not shown.
Paper filers will need to add it to their tax return, due by October 31, 2026.
This applies throughout the UK – including in Scotland, where the payment is known as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and in Northern Ireland, where payments were made by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. In all cases, recovery is handled by HMRC.
Some have to repay the money (Image: Renata Hamuda via Getty Images)
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Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, said: “Criminals are great pretenders and often use fake letters, emails, calls and texts to impersonate HMRC and trick people into giving them money.
“I’d encourage anyone who’s unsure to use our online tool at GOV.UK to check whether and how their payment will be recovered – there’s no need to call us”
HMRC stated it would never contact individuals via text or email requesting repayment of their Winter Fuel Payment, nor ask for banking information. The public can use HMRC’s online verification tool at GOV.UK to determine whether their payment will be recovered and the method used.
HMRC explains who has to pay back Winter Fuel Payment
For a standard Winter Fuel Payment of £200, PAYE taxpayers earning above £35,000 will pay roughly £17 monthly in additional tax throughout the 2026 to 2027 tax year to recover their payment, HMRC confirmed.
To report a suspicious text purporting to be from HMRC, forward it to 60599. To report a suspicious email, forward it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
To report a fraudulent telephone call, visit GOV.UK. If funds have been stolen, contact your bank straightaway and report it to Action Fraud. In Scotland, contact police on 101.
