The National Board of Revenue (NBR) today (5 July) warned taxpayers to remain vigilant against fraudsters impersonating tax officials and attempting to extort money by falsely claiming that their tax files have been selected for audit.

In a statement , the NBR said it has recently noticed that a group of scammers was contacting taxpayers from various mobile phone numbers, falsely informing them that their tax files were under audit.

The fraudsters were allegedly promising to exempt taxpayers from audit or threatening them with legal complications unless they paid money, the revenue authority said.

The NBR clarified that no official or employee contacts taxpayers regarding tax audits through personal mobile phone numbers or any unauthorised communication channel. If a tax file is selected for audit, the taxpayer is informed only through a formal written notice in accordance with the law, it said.

The revenue authority also reminded taxpayers that any outstanding tax or related fees must be paid only to the state treasury through the prescribed government payment system.

It stressed that no NBR official is authorised to receive payments personally or through mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket or Nagad, or via personal bank accounts.

The NBR advised taxpayers who receive suspicious phone calls, text messages or emails claiming to be related to tax audits not to be misled and to verify the information immediately by contacting the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in their respective tax zone.

It also urged taxpayers to report anyone demanding money while impersonating an NBR official to the nearest law enforcement agency and to preserve the fraudster's phone number as evidence.