Fake Tax Warnings Issue Alert in Bavaria Regarding Payroll Tax Assistance
German Tax Assistance Group Warns of New Scam
The Lohnsteuerhilfeverein Bayern has issued a warning regarding a recently surfaced scam targeting taxpayers. The scam involves letters demanding the payment of 350.11 euros due to alleged arrears interest for the 2023 tax return.
These letters, circulating nationwide, initially appear authentic with the inclusion of official data, case numbers, and a QR code. However, upon closer examination, discrepancies become evident. For instance, the letter's date varies between February on the first page and May on the second, and essential details like the personal tax ID are omitted.
Strangely, the provided IBAN leads to a Spanish bank account, which is unusual for legitimate tax notices.
Tobias Gerauer, a board member of Lohnsteuerhilfe Bayern, highlights that the tax office never mandates payment within two days. Typical seizures are infrequent, and genuine tax notices allow a one-month deadline and include a right of appeal.
The association advises examining questionable letters meticulously and contacting the responsible tax office for clarity in doubtful situations. Signs of forgery include an impersonal greeting, the absence of a tax ID, illogical date references, and return addresses that do not correspond to known tax offices.
It is highly unusual and suspicious for the German tax office to demand immediate payment of arrears interest for a 2023 tax return through letters that contain inconsistencies, especially those directing transfers to a Spanish IBAN. German Finanzämter usually communicate about tax assessments, arrears, and interest in formal, consistent language, with a clear reference to the tax identification number and local authority details. If an assessment was late, delays or arrears interest for previous years’ returns are possible, but the communication is always from a German authority, with a German bank account for payments.
Individuals are urged not to transfer funds to accounts specified unless they have independently verified the legitimacy of the request with the tax office. Instead, make direct contact with your local tax office using verified contact information. Verify the authenticity of the letter with the tax office by phone or in person and report suspected fraud to the authorities.
- The German Finanzämter generally communicate about tax assessments, arrears, and interest in formal, consistent language, using a clear reference to the tax identification number and local authority details, unlike the scam letters circulating nationwide that demand immediate payment for a 2023 tax return and direct transfers to a Spanish IBAN.
- In case of doubt about the authenticity of a tax-related letter, individuals are strongly advised to verify the legitimacy of the request by contacting their local tax office using verified contact information, as it is highly unusual and suspicious for the German tax office to demand immediate payment of arrears interest for the 2023 tax return, particularly when the communication contains inconsistencies and directs transfers to a Spanish IBAN.
