NBR Issues Alert as Scammers Use Audit Threats to Extort Taxpayers

The National Revenue Board (NBR) has issued an urgent warning advising taxpayers to remain vigilant against a sophisticated fraudulent ring attempting to extort money through deceptive tax audit claims. Criminal syndicates have been contacting citizens via unidentified mobile phone numbers, falsely alleging that their tax files have been flagged for an official audit.

Operating with coercive tactics, these fraudsters either promise a swift exemption from the audit process in exchange for an illicit financial settlement or threaten the victims with severe legal complications and heavy penalties if they refuse to cooperate.

Strict Official Protocol: NBR Reassures the Public

In light of these rising fraudulent activities, the NBR Chairman, Ahsan Habib, addressed the media on Sunday to clarify official procedures and reassure the public.

“We are fully committed to ensuring a transparent, hassle-free service for all legitimate taxpayers,” Chairman Habib stated. “Under no circumstances should taxpayers be misled by the temptations or intimidation tactics deployed by these criminals. We strongly urge the public to refrain from engaging in any financial transactions through unauthorized channels.”

The Chairman further counselled that if any individual receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be an NBR official demanding money, they should immediately report the incident to their nearest police station or relevant law enforcement agencies. He emphasised that the NBR will actively pursue the strictest possible legal actions against these perpetrators.

Standard Operating Procedures for Valid Tax Audits

To protect citizens from falling victim to these scams, the NBR has explicitly outlined its institutional communication and payment protocols:

• Formal Written Communication Only: The revenue authority categorically stated that no official or employee ever contacts taxpayers using personal mobile phone numbers, text messages, or unofficial digital platforms regarding audit selections. If a tax file is legally selected for scrutiny, the concerned taxpayer is notified exclusively through a formal, physical written notice issued under statutory laws.

• No Digital Wallet or Private Payments: The NBR reiterated that all outstanding taxes, penalties, or official fees must be deposited directly into the state exchequer solely through government challans (chalan).

• Authorised Channels: No tax official possesses the authority to accept money personally, nor through mobile financial services (MFS) such as bikaš, Rocket, or Nagad, nor via private bank accounts.

Taxpayers who receive dubious phone calls, text messages, or emails are strongly advised not to panic, but rather to verify the authenticity of the claim by directly contacting the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in their respective taxes zone.

Context of Elevated Audit Scrutiny

This wave of fraudulent activity coincides with the NBR’s broader institutional drive to enhance revenue collection and audit compliance across the country. The authority has significantly scaled up its oversight mechanisms over the past year.

For historical context, in July 2025, the NBR initiated a massive compliance drive, selecting approximately 88,000 income tax returns for auditing across two distinct phases—15,494 returns in the first phase and 72,341 returns in the second. Adding to this substantial volume, the revenue board recently selected an additional 5,014 personal income tax returns for rigorous audit scrutiny on 30 June.

Criminal networks are believed to be exploiting these publicised figures to induce panic among unsuspecting citizens. The NBR hopes that by reinforcing public awareness of standard bureaucratic procedures, it can effectively neutralise the threat posed by these extortionists.