NMWM16510 - Disclosure of information: verifying information already held

Is verifying information that someone already holds a disclosure

Although someone may already hold information, if they ask HM Revenue & Customs (NMWM02030) to verify whether that information is correct, HM Revenue & Customs is still making a disclosure of information that is protected by HM Revenue & Customs duty of confidentiality. This means you should not verify information unless there is lawful authority for you to do so.

There can be situations where you must ensure that you neither confirm nor deny information that may be presented to you, for example, you should make no disclosure at all where a journalist asks you to confirm the veracity of a story in the press.