Council Tax Scam Texts: Spot a Fake Refund or Demand (UK)

Scammers are flooding UK inboxes with fake council tax texts — here's how to spot fakes and check safely with your local council.

By Alex Bacsa · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-06-26 · 5 min read

What a fake council tax text looks like

A council tax scam text is a smishing message that pretends to come from a council or GOV.UK so you tap a link and hand over bank, card, or personal details. An example of the style is: COUNCIL TAX: You are due a refund of £167.40. Claim now: counciltax-refund.example. Another version threatens arrears, bailiffs, or court unless you pay immediately through a link.

Council tax is handled by your local council, not HMRC. A real bill, refund, reduction, or arrears issue must be checked through your own council's official account, website, phone number, or documents - not through a link in an unexpected text.

Why these council tax texts are convincing

Council tax affects most households, so a generic message can arrive at a believable time. Scammers can make the sender name look like "Council Tax" or like a council, and they use either a refund hook or a debt threat.

Some councils can send genuine texts, so the fact that a message is a text is not enough to prove it is fake. The safer rule is narrower: do not use a text link to claim a refund, enter bank details, or make an urgent payment. Find your council independently and check there.

GOV.UK says that if you miss council tax payments, your council sends reminder notices, can send a final notice, and may take legal action if the debt is not paid. That is a council process, not an instant "pay now or face court" text from an unknown link.

Signs a council tax text is a scam

• It offers a council tax refund or rebate through a link.
• It threatens court, bailiffs, or arrears unless you pay immediately through a link.
• The link is not your council's official website or gov.uk.
• It asks for bank details, card details, or personal information to "process" a refund.
• It cannot clearly identify your council or account, or the amount does not match your bill.
• It creates urgency but gives no safe way to verify through your council.
• It looks official but asks you to leave the official council process.

How the council tax scam works

First, a text claims you are owed a refund or that you owe council tax. Second, it pushes you to a link to claim or pay. Third, the link opens a fake council or GOV.UK-style page. Fourth, the page asks for card, bank, or personal details. Fifth, criminals use those details for payments, identity fraud, or follow-up scams.

The scam works because a refund feels welcome and a court threat feels urgent. Checking only through your real council removes the pressure and stops the fake page collecting details.

How to check with your council safely

Do not tap the link or call a number from the text.

• Find your council through gov.uk/find-local-council.
• Use the council tax pages, account login, phone number, or contact details on your council's official site.
• Compare any claimed amount with your real council tax bill or online account.
• If a refund is due, deal with it through your council's official process.
• If arrears are mentioned, check your account with the council before paying anything.

If you are unsure whether a linked site is a copycat, our guide on Is This Website a Scam? A Practical Checklist Before You Buy walks through the checks, and our DVLA Vehicle Tax Text Scam: How to Spot the Fake (UK) guide covers the same trick using other government names.

If you clicked or shared details

If you entered card details or made a card payment, contact your bank or card issuer immediately using the number on the back of your card. Tell them it was a scam, ask them to secure the card, and ask about disputing the payment. A card payment may be recoverable through chargeback, depending on the circumstances and card scheme rules.

If you made a UK bank transfer on or after 7 October 2024, mandatory APP fraud reimbursement rules may apply to Faster Payments and CHAPS transfers. The PSR rules include a 13-month claim window, a maximum claim amount of £85,000, possible exclusions, and a possible excess of up to £100. Report it to your bank as soon as possible.

If you shared personal details, consider Cifas Protective Registration at cifas.org.uk and monitor your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Tell your council through its official website or phone number, and keep the text, screenshots, and any payment receipts.

How to report a council tax scam text (UK)

Forward the text to 7726. The NCSC says most UK phone providers let customers report suspicious texts for free this way, so the provider can investigate.

If the scam arrived by email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you lost money, shared sensitive information, or were hacked, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 if you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101.

Tell your council through its official website too, especially if the message uses the council's name.

Frequently asked questions

Reporting routes in this guide are checked against our verified canon of official UK sources — Action Fraud, the National Cyber Security Centre, and Citizens Advice — by an automated accuracy gate before publication. Fact-checked and updated by Alex Bacsa, Founder & Editor, on 2026-06-26. Read about how Beat the Scam writes guides.