The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday warned taxpayers against fraudsters posing as tax officials and demanding money on the pretext of exempting tax files from audits.
In a press statement, the revenue authority said it had recently noticed that a group of scammers has been contacting taxpayers from different mobile phone numbers, falsely claiming that their tax files have been selected for audit.
The fraudsters reportedly offer to exclude the files from audit or threaten taxpayers with legal complications unless they pay money, the NBR said.
The revenue board clarified that its officials never communicate with taxpayers regarding tax audits through personal mobile phone numbers or any unauthorised channels. If a tax file is selected for audit, the taxpayer is informed only through an official written notice in accordance with the law.
The NBR also reminded taxpayers that all tax payments, fees and other government dues must be deposited directly into the state treasury through authorised government payment channels. No tax official is authorised to receive money personally or through mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket or Nagad, or through any personal bank account.
Taxpayers have been advised to verify the authenticity of any suspicious phone call, SMS or email by immediately contacting the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in their respective tax zones.
The revenue authority further urged taxpayers to report any individual impersonating an NBR official and demanding money to the nearest law enforcement agency and to preserve the caller's phone number as evidence.
Reaffirming its commitment to providing transparent and harassment-free taxpayer services, the NBR requested all taxpayers to remain vigilant and refrain from making any financial transactions with such fraudsters under any circumstances.
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