Hm Revenue and Customs SWIFT/BIC code

Hm Revenue and Customs SWIFT code: GBSVGB3L

The short code GBSVGB3L and the full code GBSVGB3LXXX refer to one and the same institution: Hm Revenue and Customs, with its head office in Surrey. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

Further down we go through the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to verify a SWIFT code before you hit send. Remember that the SWIFT code only identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Which of the 3 codes of Hm Revenue and Customs do you need?

Our directory lists 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Hm Revenue and Customs. Next to the head office code GBSVGB3LXXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: payments sent to GBSVGB3LXXX reach Hm Revenue and Customs without problems. Only use a branch code when the account holder explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than GBSVGB3LXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Sending money abroad from Hm Revenue and Customs

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of several parts. You pay the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest item even though it is not listed as a fee. An easy check: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not require closing your account at Hm Revenue and Customs: you simply pay the service from your account.

Incoming international payments to Hm Revenue and Customs

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC GBSVGB3LXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Their bank might request the address of your bank; the head office in Surrey is usually fine. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

What the XXX in GBSVGB3LXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. The result is GBSVGB3L, the short form of the code.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If a form requires eleven characters, use GBSVGB3LXXX, otherwise GBSVGB3L is fine.

In practice the code is typed in capitals. Pasting the code beats retyping it: a typo can point to another bank.

Sending GBP to Hm Revenue and Customs

The local currency of United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency is converted into GBP – and the bank that does it picks the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Check what GBP the recipient gets via several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect.

The rate for GBP changes constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

When will the money arrive at Hm Revenue and Customs?

How quickly a payment arrives at Hm Revenue and Customs depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Payments made late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later. Compliance checks by one of the banks may also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank about the status or the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see how far the payment has got.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender should contact their own bank. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Hm Revenue and Customs

Have the recipient copy their account details directly from their online banking. Check that code against GBSVGB3L on this page.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees along the way. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there is harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check in your banking app merely confirms that the IBAN is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the name against the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. Sending a small amount first is worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

SEPA payments and the Hm Revenue and Customs BIC

United Kingdom is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). When you send euros within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

You will still need GBSVGB3LXXX for payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. If your banking app has a field for the BIC anyway, entering GBSVGB3L does no harm.

Instant payments in euros are widely supported across SEPA. As long as the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

Watch out for payment fraud

Stay alert if someone unexpectedly asks you to pay into a different account or a bank in another country. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

Check new bank details through a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, never via the email that asked for the change. Pressure and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Already paid? Call your bank without delay and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to refund the difference to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

This directory is based on publicly available sources and we update it periodically. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes. The number of codes on this page are based on what is in our directory.

Use our data as a starting point, not as the last word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is independent of Hm Revenue and Customs. Found an error? Let us know via our contact form.