We may earn a commission from some links on this page. Recommendations remain editorially independent.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) recruits through Civil Service Jobs. Official careers guidance is clear that the process is tailored to each role: the job advert sets out whether you need a CV, personal statement, online tests, interview or other assessment. HMRC does not run a single permanent “HMRC-only” psychometric product for every vacancy. When online tests appear, they are drawn from the shared Civil Service online test suite published on GOV.UK.

Your advert and Civil Service Jobs invitation name which tests apply. Treat those documents as the control. Formats, banked scores and pass marks can change between campaigns.

The 30 educational exercises below use fictional HMRC-style contact-centre, compliance-support and casework settings. They are not official HMRC, Civil Service, Cabinet Office or JobTestPrep items. They are not tax advice. Do not use them to decide real tax liabilities, refunds or filing positions.

After you have read the GOV.UK Civil Service online tests guidance and your vacancy instructions, independent third-party familiarisation can help some candidates rehearse similar numerical, verbal and judgement formats. Commercial products are optional extras only. They are not HMRC, the Cabinet Office, Civil Service Jobs or an official recruitment administrator.

Key Takeaways

  • HMRC campaigns often use Civil Service online tests named in the vacancy.
  • There is no single permanent HMRC test battery for every role.
  • Confirm the tests named in your HMRC or Civil Service Jobs invitation.
  • UK HMRC guidance is separate from US civil-service exams.
  • Third-party HMRC packs are independent and vacancy coverage can vary.

Quick facts

Item Detail
Organisation HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
Where vacancies appear Civil Service Jobs (and linked Civil Service Careers pages)
Online tests Civil Service online test suite named on the vacancy, not a unique HMRC exam brand for every role
Framework Success Profiles elements listed on the advert
What controls the stage Your advert + Civil Service Jobs invitation
Integrity Your own answers; do not share live test content
Commercial prep Optional third-party familiarisation only after official guidance

Online tests: what HMRC campaigns typically mean

HMRC is a large Civil Service employer. Customer-facing, caseworking, analytical and policy roles can each select different Success Profiles elements and different online tests. The shared Civil Service guidance on GOV.UK covers the suite as a whole. Common named assessments include:

Test (common short name) Guide on this site
Civil Service Judgement Test (CSJT) CSJT guide
Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT) CSNT guide
Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT) CSVT guide
Civil Service Styles Assessment Styles Assessment guide
Civil Service Work Strengths Test Work Strengths guide
Civil Service Management Judgement Test Management Judgement guide
Customer Service Skills Test Customer Service Skills guide
Casework Skills Test Casework Skills guide

Do not assume you will sit every test. An AO customer role may emphasise Customer Service Skills or Judgement. A HEO/SEO post may emphasise Management Judgement or Work Strengths. A role with heavy data or compliance analysis may name Numerical or Verbal. Always match practice to the tests listed in your invitation.

Official overview: Civil Service online tests on GOV.UK.

How HMRC recruitment is framed officially

Useful official starting points:

Civil Service Careers guidance for HMRC states that the advert details the application process for that particular job, and that you may be asked for a CV or personal statement, to complete online tests, or to take part in an interview or assessment. Pre-employment security checks and a health declaration may also apply after a successful outcome. Those steps are separate from psychometric scoring.

What “HMRC-flavoured” practice is useful for

HMRC work often involves accurate handling of sensitive personal and financial information, clear customer explanations without overpromising, careful reading of process notes, and proportionate escalation when identity, fraud or vulnerability indicators appear. Educational drills that mirror those habits can support Civil Service Customer Service, Casework, Judgement and Numerical preparation when those tests are named.

This page’s practice set therefore mixes:

  • fictional payment, refund and correspondence volumes (numeracy);
  • short policy excerpts for True / False / Cannot Say habits (verbal);
  • customer and casework judgement in tax-administration style settings (not real tax decisions).

If your advert names specific Civil Service tests, prefer the dedicated guides linked above for structure, timing and banked-score rules, then treat the drills here as extra HMRC-context rehearsal.

How to prepare

  1. Read your HMRC vacancy on Civil Service Jobs end to end. Note every online test named.
  2. Open the matching GOV.UK preparation page and free Civil Service practice test for each named assessment.
  3. Use this site’s CSJT, CSNT, CSVT, Styles, Work Strengths, Management Judgement, Customer Service and Casework guides for format detail.
  4. Practise careful table reading, percentages and remaining-stock style checks for Numerical.
  5. For judgement and customer items, prioritise identity checks, confidentiality, honesty, dignity and escalation when rules are unclear.
  6. Answer Styles and Work Strengths items honestly and consistently.
  7. Use third-party packs only as optional extra familiarisation after official practice.

JobTestPrep UK HMRC online-test practice can support HMRC-oriented Civil Service practice as an independent commercial option. HMRC campaigns may use different Civil Service online tests by vacancy. Confirm coverage and what is free versus paid on the product page. It is not HMRC or Civil Service Resourcing.

Practice questions (30 originals)

Educational only. Not official items. Fictional figures and policies.

Numerical reasoning (taxpayer contact and casework volumes)

1. A contact team logged 360 refund-status queries across 12 equal working days. At the same daily rate, how many queries would it log in 9 days?

A. 240 B. 255 C. 270 D. 300

Correct answer: C Explanation: 360 / 12 = 30 per day. 30 x 9 = 270.

2. Three weeks of outbound reminder letters: 1,150, 1,280 and 1,370. What is the mean weekly volume?

A. 1,200 B. 1,250 C. 1,267 D. 1,300

Correct answer: C Explanation: (1,150 + 1,280 + 1,370) = 3,800. 3,800 / 3 = 1,266.666…, closest listed option is 1,267.

3. Of 500 identity-verification checks, 18% fail the first attempt. How many fail first attempt?

A. 80 B. 85 C. 90 D. 95

Correct answer: C Explanation: 0.18 x 500 = 90.

4. A queue starts at 145 cases. The team closes 68 and receives 41 new ones the same day. How many remain open?

A. 108 B. 118 C. 126 D. 134

Correct answer: B Explanation: 145 - 68 + 41 = 118.

5. Ratio of phone to web queries is 2:5. Total queries = 350. How many are phone queries?

A. 70 B. 100 C. 140 D. 250

Correct answer: B Explanation: Parts = 2 + 5 = 7. One part = 350 / 7 = 50. Phone = 2 x 50 = 100.

6. A payment plan balance falls from £640 to £512. What is the percentage fall?

A. 15% B. 18% C. 20% D. 25%

Correct answer: C Explanation: Fall = 640 - 512 = 128. 128 / 640 = 0.20 = 20%.

7. Four advisers handle 46, 52, 39 and 63 verification calls. What is the median count?

A. 46 B. 49 C. 52 D. 63

Correct answer: B Explanation: Ordered: 39, 46, 52, 63. Median = (46 + 52) / 2 = 49.

8. Chart shares of channel contact: Phone 40%, Web chat 35%, Written 25%. If total contacts = 800, how many are written?

A. 180 B. 200 C. 220 D. 280

Correct answer: B Explanation: 0.25 x 800 = 200.

9. A caseworker spends 2 hours 15 minutes on quality review across 9 files equally. How many minutes per file on average?

A. 12 B. 15 C. 18 D. 20

Correct answer: B Explanation: 2 h 15 min = 135 minutes. 135 / 9 = 15.

10. Last month a unit opened 420 compliance support cases and closed 378. Closures as a percentage of openings (nearest whole percent)?

A. 85% B. 88% C. 90% D. 92%

Correct answer: C Explanation: 378 / 420 = 0.9 = 90%.

Verbal: True / False / Cannot Say (fictional process notes)

Use only the stated excerpt. Do not bring outside tax knowledge.

11. Note: “Before discussing any account balance, complete both full name and National Insurance number checks.” Statement: Staff may discuss an account balance after checking only the customer’s full name.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: B Explanation: The note requires both checks before discussing a balance.

12. Guide: “Written replies about refund timing must quote the text on the customer’s online account screen.” Statement: Advisers may invent a refund date if the screen is blank.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: B Explanation: The guide ties the reply to the account screen text; inventing a date conflicts with that rule.

13. Memo: “Team briefings run on Tuesday mornings.” Statement: Briefings also run every Thursday afternoon.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: C Explanation: The memo only confirms Tuesdays. It does not prove or disprove Thursday briefings.

14. Policy line: “Do not share taxpayer records with colleagues who lack a work need to know.” Statement: A colleague without a work need may still view the records for curiosity under this line alone.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: B Explanation: The policy forbids sharing without a work need to know.

15. Desk aid: “Escalate suspected identity fraud to the nominated security contact within one working day.” Statement: The desk aid specifies the exact name of the security contact.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: C Explanation: Timing is stated; the contact’s personal name is not.

16. Extract: “Paper forms received after 16:00 are logged the next working day.” Statement: A form arriving at 15:30 is logged the same working day under this extract alone.

A. True B. False C. Cannot say

Correct answer: C Explanation: The extract only covers forms after 16:00. It does not state the rule for 15:30 arrivals.

Workplace and customer judgement (HMRC-style educational scenes)

Labels mark a Most defensible response for study only. Not tax advice and not an official scoring key.

17. A taxpayer calls for an exact refund date. Your screen shows “under review” with no payment date. Your quality script says not to invent dates.

A. Give a confident date so the caller calms down. B. Explain that no payment date is shown yet, outline what you can see, and explain the next accurate step available in process. C. Guess “within two days” based on similar calls. D. Transfer the caller repeatedly without an update.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Accuracy and transparency beat reassurance built on invented promises.

18. You find a printed account summary left on a shared printer, showing a National Insurance number and balance.

A. Read it carefully then leave it. B. Secure it, avoid unnecessary reading, and follow information-security reporting expectations. C. Post a photo to a team chat for “awareness”. D. Take it home to study overnight.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Taxpayer data needs immediate protection and proper reporting.

19. A colleague asks you to alter a case chronolgy note so a late contact looks on-time for a performance report.

A. Edit the note quietly. B. Refuse, keep the record accurate, and escalate integrity concerns through the proper route. C. Alter it and blame a system fault later. D. Joke about it and leave the false note in place.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Civil Service integrity expects accurate records, not performance-driven falsification.

20. A caller becomes abusive while demanding that you waive a charge you have no authority to waive.

A. Match the tone and argue back. B. Stay calm, restate the limits of your role, offer any allowed next step, and use escalation or call-handling protections when needed. C. Promise to waive the charge to end the call. D. Hang up silently without following the agreed safety process.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Safety and honesty sit ahead of making unaffordable concessions.

21. You are unsure which process note applies before confirming a customer’s correspondence address change.

A. Confirm the change anyway to hit your handle-time target. B. Pause, check the authorised source or ask a nominated adviser, then act on the correct step. C. Invent a shortcut and tell teammates it is policy. D. Ignore the request until the customer complains later.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Accuracy outweighs speed when the rule is unclear.

22. A friend asks you to look up whether their neighbour’s tax affairs are “OK” using your system access.

A. Run a quick search as a favour. B. Refuse: access is for authorised work need only, and report any inappropriate request where required. C. Screenshot the screen for the friend. D. Ask the friend for payment in cash.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Curiosity access to taxpayer records is not legitimate.

23. Two co-workers argue loudly about a priority case beside an open customer phone line that still has someone waiting.

A. Join the argument on speakerphone. B. Protect the customer experience: pause the dispute, secure the live call to another adviser if needed, then resolve the disagreement privately. C. Film the argument for social media. D. Leave the caller on hold indefinitely.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Service quality and privacy come first; disagreements move offline.

24. Your manager asks for an update on a complex case that you have not finished reviewing.

A. Invent completion percentages. B. Give a factual partial update, what is still outstanding, and a realistic time for the missing detail. C. Blame another team without evidence. D. Avoid answering for several days.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Honest progress reporting supports trust and planning.

25. During an online test evening you realise you accepted two Civil Service invitations with overlapping windows.

A. Ghost one campaign after starting both. B. Communicate promptly with recruiters where allowed, keep integrity rules, and reschedule if the process permits. C. Ask a relative to sit one test for you. D. Share live question screenshots in a group chat.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Commitments and integrity rules apply to the assessment stage itself.

26. A Style or Work Strengths questionnaire asks about how you usually work under pressure.

A. Invent an extreme persona you think will “look best”. B. Answer honestly and consistently about your typical behaviour. C. Copy a friend’s profile answers. D. Click randomly to finish faster.

Most defensible response: B Explanation: Official strengths and styles guidance rewards honest self-description, not a rehearsed ideal.

Mini case accuracy (educational)

27. Two notes for the same fictional customer reference. Note A lists postcode “LS1 4AG” and phone “0113 555 0198”. Note B lists “LS1 4AG” and “0113 555 0189”. Which detail differs?

A. Postcode only B. Phone number only C. Both postcode and phone D. Neither

Correct answer: B Explanation: Postcodes match; the final two digits of the phone number differ (98 vs 89).

28. Filing reminder letter (fictional): “Reply by Friday 14 March.” Today is Monday 10 March. Working days remaining before the reply deadline (including Monday, excluding Friday)?

A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5

Correct answer: C Explanation: Mon 10, Tue 11, Wed 12, Thu 13 = four working days before Friday 14.

29. A quality sample of 80 closed contacts finds 6 with missing ID-check timestamps. What percentage are missing the timestamp?

A. 6.0% B. 7.5% C. 8.0% D. 12.5%

Correct answer: B Explanation: 6 / 80 = 0.075 = 7.5%.

30. Team A clears 55% of a combined 200-case backlog. Team B clears the rest. How many cases does Team B clear?

A. 80 B. 90 C. 100 D. 110

Correct answer: B Explanation: Team A clears 0.55 x 200 = 110. Team B clears 200 - 110 = 90.

Official resources

FAQ

Does HMRC use unique online tests different from other Civil Service departments?

Usually no for the psychometric suite itself. HMRC vacancies typically invite the shared Civil Service online tests named on the advert. Confirm the names in your invitation rather than assuming a fixed HMRC pack.

Where do I find which tests I must take?

In the vacancy advert and the Civil Service Jobs assessment invitation for that campaign.

Can third-party PrepPacks replace official Civil Service practice?

No. Free official practice tests and GOV.UK preparation pages come first. Third-party materials are optional familiarisation only.

Will preparing with tax-style drills teach me real tax rules?

No. These drills train reading, calculation and judgement habits for assessments. They are not HMRC guidance and not tax advice.

Next steps

  1. Open your live HMRC advert on Civil Service Jobs.
  2. Study only the Civil Service tests named there, starting from GOV.UK online tests guidance.
  3. Deepen practice with the dedicated CSJT, CSNT, CSVT, Styles, Work Strengths, Management Judgement, Customer Service and Casework guides linked above.
  4. If you want extra independent rehearsal after official practice, use the optional commercial link in the preparation section above and verify current coverage, free samples and access terms on the product page.

Return to the UK Assessment Tests hub.