Indian taxpayers are being warned about a scam doing the rounds that is designed to trick them into revealing their bank details.
Fraudsters are sending out emails from addresses that look similar to genuine government accounts promising a tax refund. But the sender's address appears as donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in, rather than the genuine donotreply@incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. In other words, the ‘e’ is missing from ‘efiling’ and ‘filing’ is spelt 'filling'.
If taxpayers click on the link, they are directed to an online banking page and if they log in there, their bank account will be hacked.
An Income Tax (IT) department spokesperson told the Times of India: "We issue standard alerts on our website as well as by text messages cautioning taxpayers about online fraud. It is best not to respond to suspicious mails and never share your bank account or credit card details because we do not solicit them."
If a refund is genuinely due, the taxpayer concerned will receive a formal notice from IT. The department will not request bank account details as it has this information already.
As the 31 July deadline for filing tax returns fast approaches, at least Indian taxpayers should not have to worry about over-aggressive tax demands from assessing officers (AOs) keen to hit their targets this year. Sushil Chandra, chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, has confirmed that AOs deemed to be making such demands will be disciplined and transferred to “non-sensitive” posts.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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Indian taxpayers are being warned about a scam doing the rounds that is designed to trick them into revealing their bank details.
Fraudsters are sending out emails from addresses that look similar to genuine government accounts promising a tax refund. But the sender's address appears as donotreply@incometaxindiafilling.gov.in, rather than the genuine donotreply@incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. In other words, the ‘e’ is missing from ‘efiling’ and ‘filing’ is spelt 'filling'.
If taxpayers click on the link, they are directed to an online banking page and if they log in there, their bank account will be hacked.
An Income Tax (IT) department spokesperson told the Times of India: "We issue standard alerts on our website as well as by text messages cautioning taxpayers about online fraud. It is best not to respond to suspicious mails and never share your bank account or credit card details because we do not solicit them."
If a refund is genuinely due, the taxpayer concerned will receive a formal notice from IT. The department will not request bank account details as it has this information already.
As the 31 July deadline for filing tax returns fast approaches, at least Indian taxpayers should not have to worry about over-aggressive tax demands from assessing officers (AOs) keen to hit their targets this year. Sushil Chandra, chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, has confirmed that AOs deemed to be making such demands will be disciplined and transferred to “non-sensitive” posts.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
MORE ARTICLES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Minding your manners in India part 1
Key payroll considerations in India
India clarifies double taxation situation for overseas workers
