The Tax Administration issued an alert on 29 July 2026 concerning fraudulent messages—both electronic and SMS—circulating under the pretext of tax refunds. Fraudsters are impersonating official tax officials, claiming that certain taxpayers are entitled to a monetary refund and requesting personal banking details, identification numbers, or payment of a nominal administrative fee to release the supposed amount. The communication typically contains a sense of urgency, encouraging recipients to act immediately to avoid losing the alleged benefit. The Administration emphasises that legitimate tax offices never request sensitive personal data via informal channels, nor do they ask for fees to process refunds. Citizens are advised to verify any such message by consulting the official e‑Tax portal, contacting the dedicated helpline, or visiting a local tax office in person. Screenshots of suspicious messages should be retained and reported through the official reporting mechanism available on the Ministry’s website. The alert also provides guidance on how to recognise common phishing indicators, such as misspelled official titles, inconsistent email addresses, and links leading to non‑government domains. Educational material, including infographics and a short video, is published to raise public awareness of these scams. The overall aim is to protect taxpayers from financial loss and to reinforce confidence in the authenticity of official tax communications.
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