SHOULD YOU TRUST THE TAX OFFICE?

Yes I guess we have to but as we all know, the scammers are out there.  While a lot of the time the scams are getting more and more obvious (a recorded phone message about an Amazon account you don't have), we have to keep in mind that their aim isn't to catch everyone.  They only need to catch a few to make it all worthwhile for them.

So if they send a recorded message to 100,000 random phone numbers about their Amazon account, chances are some of the people they call will have an Amazon account.

There is also then a chance that some of these people will wonder if they genuinely do have an amount owing and ring the phone number or click on the link.

Then they are at the point where they try to talk you in to something or have gained access to your computer or phone.

Unfortunately, this means we now have to suspect anyone who randomly emails, phones or text us of being a scammer.

We're quite concerned to learn that the tax office now have our clients personal phone numbers and emails addresses. We have never given them these contact details as we prefer to be the contact point with the tax office for our clients for two reasons.  Firstly, so we know what's going on between our clients and the tax office and secondly, so we can save you a bit of stress by sorting out matters for you without you having to worry about them.

However, with the sharing of data between government agencies, they are finding out your personal contact details, attaching them to your tax office record and using these when they want to discuss your tax matters.

In the last few weeks, we have had a number of clients calling us to advise that the tax office has called them directly, without having contacted us first.

We don't agree that they should be using your personal details for their first contact with you.  As your tax agent, part of our role involves staying informed of tax office requirements and part of our service is dealing with these things for you in the first instance.

We've brought this up with the tax office and they can't tell us why they are now using your private contact details rather than contacting us.  One tax office employee advised us that their computer makes the phone call and they don't even know what number they are calling.  

The main thing I think we need to take away from all of this though, is that when anyone contacts us, claiming to be from any business or agency, we should start asking them for proof of identity as well.  Not their personal identify, but ours.

I'm so used to being asked my date of birth, address, mother's maiden name, that I find I just give these out without thought.  

But now, I'm going to ask some questions back. What's my account number, what do you have recorded as my date of birth etc, and if they can't give any answers, I'll assume they aren't who they say they are.

And the same goes for the tax office.  If they ring you, ask them some questions. Who was my employer on my last tax return?  How much was the last tax payment/refund I had?  Who is my tax agent?

If they can't answer you, don't answer them.  If you are concerned, give them our phone number – as your tax agent we're always able to talk to them.  And if you are still concerned, give us a call and let us know so we can check it out for you.  That's part of our service. 

Even if you know you have a tax debt, even if you know you haven't lodged a return, it's our job to liaise with the tax office for you and unfortunately, some of the earliest scams have been from people claiming to be from the tax office.

Any contact from anyone where they tell you that you owe money can be stressful but we need to be careful with everyone and remember, don't click on the link, don't call back the phone number they give you and ask for proof of who they say they are.

Anyone who is genuine will have to know something about you and the tax office have to accept the same proof of identity requirements they ask of us when they call.

So I know we can trust the tax office, but it's the way of the world now that we should be asking them to prove it!