Anyone claiming to be the tax bureau and pressing you by phone or message to pay into a designated account is a scam; handle tax only through e-Tax and 12366
UpdatedGrade AMedium benefitMoneyFreeLittle timeNo willpower
Tax authorities will not phone you for bank-card passwords, payment passwords, or SMS verification codes, and will not give you an account to wire tax into. Real on-site audits must show an inspection notice and inspector credentials. Hang up first, then verify on 12366. If you already transferred money, call 110 or 96110 at once to stop payment.
- Cost
- No money. For calls, texts, or friend requests about a «tax spot check», «account anomaly», or «fine if you don't file», hang up and don't reply. Then call 12366, or the competent tax authority's listed landline, to verify.
- Benefit
- The State Taxation Administration's notice states: «Tax authorities will not ask via WeChat mini-programs, phone, SMS, or similar channels for bank-card passwords, payment passwords, account balances, or SMS verification codes related to card payments.» «Some lawbreakers impersonate tax officials and contact taxpayers under names such as «help with tax filing», «preferential-tax agency», or «policy coaching».» To verify, call «the 12366 tax and fee service hotline or the competent tax authority's fixed-line number». Real on-site audits (inspections) «must present an inspection notice and inspector credentials». «Tax may be paid only through the e-Tax bureau or at a tax service hall; tax authorities will not provide a designated account.» Tax-service intermediaries have their own rule: «Extorting taxpayers or withholding agents in the name of tax authorities or tax personnel» is fined by severity. Impersonating state-organ staff to defraud: detention of 10 days or more and up to 15 days, and may add a fine of up to 1000 yuan. If both fraud and impersonation apply, «convict and punish under the heavier provision» (nationwide).
- Notes
- These scams target newly registered sole proprietors and small companies. The script is «the system shows you haven't filed; handle it today or be fined», then a private official account or mini-program charging a few hundred yuan—while that filing is free and takes minutes on your own. Hiring a market bookkeeping firm is legal, but it is not a government office and will not demand payment in the tax bureau's name. If you already paid or transferred, follow section 8, item 2 (stop payment after fraud)—call 110 or 96110 at once. Impersonating market regulators over a missed annual report and paid «agency» is the same playbook; see item 25 (annual reports are free).
Sources · 5
- 国家税务总局 (2025). 税务部门提醒广大纳税人——增强防范意识 警惕互联网涉税诈骗. chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n810219/n810724/c524…
- 国家税务总局扬州市税务局 (2023). 扬州防范涉税诈骗宣传篇. jiangsu.chinatax.gov.cn/art/2023/8/28/art_230…
- 国家税务总局 (2025). 涉税专业服务管理办法（试行）（国家税务总局令第 58 号，第三十二条第七项、第三十三条）. fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100011/c5239044/co…
- 全国人大常委会 (2025). 治安管理处罚法（2025 年修订，2026 年 1 月 1 日施行，第六十二条）. spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml
- 最高人民法院、最高人民检察院、公安部 (2016). 关于办理电信网络诈骗等刑事案件适用法律若干问题的意见（法发〔2016〕32 号）. spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201612/t20161221_176278.shtml