Have you received an email from the IRD? It could be a scam

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Inland Revenue is warning of several scams circulating this tax season. Inland Revenue revealed earlier this month that there is about $183 million of tax refunds sitting unclaimed – enough to fly first class from Auckland to London and back more than 11,000 times.

Since then the IRD has been alerted to a scam email that asks users to enter their personal details to claim their tax refund. The email has the subject line, "IR3 individual income tax return 2016".

It's important to remember the IRD will not:
- Advise you that you are due a tax refund through email
- Send an email with a link to a webpage which asks you submit personal details
- Ask for credit card details or bank account numbers over the phone in order to process a monetary payment
- Ask you to pay a tax debt using gift cards or vouchers
- Sent you an email that does not include or ask for your IRD number

If you receive a suspicious email, SMS scam message or a fraudulent call please email phishing@ird.govt.nz or call them on 0800 227 774 (make sure you have your IRD number).

Log on to the Inland Revenue's website, register for myIR and use its calculator to work out whether you are owed money or have tax to pay.