The Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued a fresh warning to Filipinos after scammers began circulating a fabricated notice aimed at people receiving income from foreign trading activities, using official language and government branding to pressure victims into paying bogus fees.
In an advisory released in mid-December, Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said the agency has confirmed the existence of a counterfeit memorandum falsely attributed to the BIR’s International Tax Affairs Division.
The document claims that individuals with foreign-sourced trading proceeds must first obtain a so-called “Foreign Trading Income Clearance” and settle a “Taxable Verification Fee” before their funds can be released.
The bureau stressed that no such clearance exists and that the requirement is entirely fictitious. According to the BIR, the document did not originate from any of its offices and forms part of a coordinated fraud scheme designed to exploit Filipinos who earn or receive money from abroad, particularly those involved in online trading, investments, or cross-border transactions.
Authorities said scammers are increasingly relying on official-looking formats and urgent payment demands to create panic and force compliance. The BIR emphasized that it does not request payments or transmit official notices through private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger, or similar applications, regardless of how authentic the message may appear.
The agency also reiterated that legitimate tax payments and transactions are conducted only through authorized channels, including accredited agent banks, revenue collection officers, and recognized digital platforms such as LandBank, UnionBank, and Maya.
Any demand for advance “release fees,” “verification charges,” or special clearances tied to the transfer of funds should immediately raise red flags.
The BIR urged the public to stay alert, verify information directly with official offices, and promptly report suspicious documents or payment requests to the nearest revenue district office. The agency said public vigilance remains one of the strongest defenses against evolving tax-related scams targeting overseas income earners.