Is Revolut’s Request for Your PPS Number a Scam?
Question: My Revolut asked me for a photo of government-issued identification, so I uploaded a snapshot of my driver’s license. Now it’s asking me for my PPS number. Most of my friends have Revolut too, and only some of them are being asked for this. Is this a scam? Or what’s going on?
If you receive this request when you open the Revolut app on your phone, it’s not a scam. However, if you receive this request via text or email, it could be a scam. The safest approach is to independently open the Revolut app and check if you are prompted for this information. Avoid opening the app through a link provided in a text or email; instead, open it directly from your phone.
So, why is Revolut asking for your PPS number? According to Revolut, it’s part of international financial regulatory rules.
This can be confusing because some banks in Ireland request PPS numbers while others do not. Naturally, this raises questions about why certain banks need such sensitive information, like a PPS number, while others do not.
Here’s what Revolut stated when asked about this: “Certain Irish customers will have received a push notification and/or email from Revolut recently to provide their PPS number.
“As a European-regulated bank, Revolut is legally required to determine where its customers are tax resident.
“This is for reporting purposes under international tax rules, namely the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and is solely for the purposes of identifying customers’ tax residency. In Ireland, this information can be derived from customers’ PPS numbers, which are used by Revenue to identify Ireland’s taxpayers.”
It appears that not all Revolut customers will receive this request. This PPS number requirement applies primarily to Revolut customers who joined the service before March 2023, when Revolut established an Irish branch.
From that date onward, anyone in Ireland who sets up a Revolut account might not be required to provide a PPS number, as the account is technically with the Irish branch, eliminating the need for the bank to verify your tax residency status.
In summary, if you receive a PPS number request through the Revolut app, it is legitimate and part of compliance with international tax regulations. Always verify any requests received via text or email by checking directly through the official app.
