On 1 October 2026, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) launched a nationwide anti-fraud campaign titled “Tax Refund Fraud Prevention: Three Steps to Safety” in response to a surge in sophisticated phishing schemes targeting individual taxpayers during the annual tax refund season. The National Taxation Bureau reported a 42% year-on-year increase in fraudulent refund claims involving identity theft and fake tax officer impersonation. The campaign coincides with the rollout of the new “Tax Refund Status Inquiry” mobile app, which incorporates biometric verification and real-time anomaly detection. The MOF emphasized that legitimate tax authorities never request passwords, OTP codes, or ATM transfers via phone, email, or messaging apps.
Key Takeaways
- Three-Step Verification Protocol: Taxpayers are instructed to (1) verify caller identity through the official 0800-000-321 hotline, (2) check refund status exclusively via the government’s e-Tax portal or authorized app, and (3) report suspicious contacts to the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline. The protocol mandates that any request for immediate payment or account credentials is fraudulent.
- Enhanced Digital Safeguards: The new e-Tax platform now requires dual-factor authentication (SMS OTP plus facial recognition) for refund account changes. Banks have been directed to flag bulk transfers to newly registered accounts linked to tax refunds, triggering a 24-hour hold for manual review.
- Penalties for Complicit Entities: Amendments to the Money Laundering Control Act impose fines up to NT$10 million on financial institutions that fail to implement enhanced due diligence for tax refund-related transactions. Telecom providers must block numbers reported for tax impersonation scams within two hours of notification.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement