Scammers pretending to be tax officials demanding payments are fraudsters; tax filings must be done via the e-Tax Service or by calling 12366

No cost involved. If you receive calls or texts claiming a “tax audit,” “unusual account activity,” or “fines for non-filing,” or if someone adds you as a contact, simply hang up and ignore them. Then call 12366 or the official phone number of your local tax authority to verify.

The State Taxation Administration explicitly states: “Tax authorities never request bank card passwords, payment codes, account balances, or SMS verification codes related to payments via WeChat mini-programs, phone calls, or texts.” It also warns: “Some criminals impersonate tax officials, offering services such as ‘tax filing assistance,’ ‘preferential tax policy handling,’ or ‘policy guidance’ to taxpayers.” To verify any claims, call the 12366 taxpayer service hotline or your local tax authority’s official number. Legitimate on-site inspections require officials to present a written notice and identification. Tax payments can only be made via the e-Tax Service or at tax service centers; no tax authority ever provides a designated account for payments. Intermediary agencies offering tax filing services are also subject to regulations. Those who extort taxpayers or withholding agents using the guise of tax officials face fines based on severity. Impersonating government officials to commit fraud results in detention for 10–15 days and a fine of up to 1,000 yuan. If actions meet criteria for both fraud and impersonation, penalties follow the stricter applicable law.

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. https://www.chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n810219/n810724/c5243181/content.html ; 国家税务总局扬州市税务局 (2023). 扬州防范涉税诈骗宣传篇. https://jiangsu.chinatax.gov.cn/art/2023/8/28/art_23038_432322.html ; 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）. https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100011/c5239044/content.html ; 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）. https://www.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）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201612/t20161221_176278.shtml

These scams specifically target newly registered sole proprietors and small businesses. Scammers claim “your tax filing records show non-compliance, and fines will apply today,” then steer victims to their own official accounts or mini-programs, charging hundreds of yuan for services that are actually free and take only minutes to complete independently. While hiring external bookkeeping firms is legal, they are not government entities and cannot act on behalf of tax authorities. Victims who’ve already paid should follow Section 8, Clause 2 (payment reversal for fraud) and immediately call 110 or 96110 to request a reversal.