BIR warns taxpayers of new scam

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Monday warned the public of a new scam in which taxpayers are victimized by supposed agents of the agency and inform the taxpayers of their supposed tax liabilities.

"The modus operandi consists of informing the intended victim of alleged tax obligations, mostly but not limited to tax on compensation, and advises the intended victim to call certain numbers like 387-44-16, 703-99-54, 408-39-47, purportedly to settle. These numbers do not belong to the BIR, thus, if one day you are also a victim, please ask for documentary proof of the BIR assessment or letter and determine the identity of the caller and report the same to the nearest law enforcement office like the police or the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation)," the BIR said.

The scam was discovered after one taxpayer received a call allegedly from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner-Operations Group telling the party called that it alphabetical list of employees has a poblem or "tax difference." Another employee called upon has consulted the Office of the Deputy by email who has been advised that the calls did not come from that Office.

The latest person called by the impostors is a taxpayer who is personally known to the Deputy Commissioner himself. The person inormed the Deputy who disowned such calls.

BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, through Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 6-2013, advised taxpayers to hire or engage the services of tax agents or practitioners who are accredited by the BIR.